The first Chuck E. Cheese to serve up pizza and breadsticks to Southern Oregon families in nearly four decades is gearing up for its grand opening planned later this month.

While not the first for the Rogue Valley — a predecessor wooed local children to a Biddle Road location during the 1980s and ‘90s — the new pizzeria location will feature some fun firsts for the company.

Located inside a pair of storefronts in the WinCo shopping center previously occupied by Village Books and Payless Shoe Source, the retail front is now decked out with a large arcade, 150-foot video wall, interactive dance floor and “Trampoline Zone.”

While the chain is known for its giant rat mascot — named Chuck Entertainment Cheese — the 1980s-era animatronics began giving way to a more modern setup in 2017.

Medford will be home to one of fewer than 10 “Ninja Run” obstacle courses — a test concept for the company — across the chain’s 470 locations.

Rickie Moore, director of field training for the company, said a soft opening held Monday was a chance to give staff a chance time to practice their recently acquired training and work out some kinks. A grand opening event is slated for 5-7 p.m. Oct. 17 with special giveaways for those who attend.

The company first announced it would open the new location in December and hoped for a late summer opening. Moore said employees are excited to open to the community.

“We started training everyone on Wednesday. We’ll open the doors Monday to give our employees, cast members and managers a chance to get used to things and try out all their new training,” Moore told the Rogue Valley Times on Thursday.

Moore said the “Ninja Run” course would be a fun highlight.

“This is one of the very first, right here in Medford. There are only 5 to 10 across the company,” he said.

“It’s a good way to let the little ones run out some energy, so the parents love it.”

Moore said the location would offer the company’s trademark hosted birthday party package in addition to homeschool play sessions and “Sensory Sensitive Sundays,” the first Sunday each month, with reduced lighting and noise.

The Oct. 24 grand opening event is 5-7 p.m. and includes a chance to win a hosted birthday party and a “free play for a year” certificate. The first 25 families to arrive will get 30 minutes free play in the arcade.

“Everyone is really excited, and we’ve definitely heard a lot of excitement and anticipation from the community for sure,” Moore said. “It’s going to be a pretty big event.”

For more information, see chuckecheese.com