Bankrupt - Discovery Zone

Standing as a multi franchise icon of so many children of the 90’s, Discovery Zone quickly grew from its humble beginning in 1989. Soon, the entertainment centres with a fitness twist expanded across North America with will over 300 locations. They took on McDonalds and the giant, Chuck E Cheese with success. However it was short lived as their fall from grace was almost just as quick as their rise. Join me as I found out why this was and how Discovery Zone ultimately went Bankrupt.
My documentary - www.closedforstorm.com/
Patreon - / brightsunfilms
Join my discord - / discord
Twitter - / brightsunfilms
Instagram - / brightsunfilms
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BrightSunFilms 2021
Presented in 4K

[@larrywt656]

It never ceases to amaze me how companies can come up with really solid ideas and then mis-manage them right into the ground.

[@BrightSunFilms]

Bankrupt: in a nutshell

[@baronvonlimbourgh1716]

Thats why you go to business school lol.

[@Fay7666]

@@baronvonlimbourgh1716 Business school is good and all, yes. But it can also lead you to some very negative paths. Especially if they don't really understand the business and try and implement some bone-headed ideas that might work on a general business but not in a specific area.

[@sonic23233]

@@baronvonlimbourgh1716 which is what these people didn't do

[@baronvonlimbourgh1716]

@@Fay7666 yeah that was what i mean. It was more a sarcastic comment. Most of the businesses that are run into the ground have some clueless business school graduate at the helm. 👍

[@seanmcmanus4243]

Audience: "say the line, jake" Jake: "chapter 11 bankruptcy"

[@billcutler9425]

Yayyyyyy

[@LivenSixtyFive]

Or Chapter 7 every now and then

[@mirzaahmed6589]

Jake: "wwwhats up guys?"

[@staringcorgi6475]

Chapter 7 means no way of returning

[@lorumipsum1129]

Oooooh yeeeeah...

[@NikateeN]

I grew up poor as dirt and rarely got to experience places like this, but I did have a friend who’s family was well off and every time I spent the night at his house his parents would take us to DZ. it was always incredible!

[@juandager5220]

Sweet story! Where or how did you meet your friend? Do you still talk?

[@solouno2280]

GenX and prior kids, we were full of energy

[@driley4381]

My local DZ was in a strip mall, and I drove by in my teenage years roughly ten years after it closed. Through some tears in the paper covering the inside of the windows, you could see glimpses of the playground and other architecture still in there. Like it was frozen in 1999. It made me want to cry.

[@TheIronPath]

lol

[@ev14304]

same here. are you in Buffalo ?

[@laurenbrooks3091]

My heart. 🥺It hurts.

[@mostlyamazing]

Mine was in our local mall too🥲 I always loved going there while my parents shopped. Sigh😢

[@AntoineMalveaux]

I can't put into words how much I loved going to Discovery Zone back in the day. It was fantastic, you got to eat pizza/have an awesome adventure. Man, I miss the 90s.

[@j.peters1222]

Nostalgia my dude. You don't notice the bad things as much and the world is simpler when you're a kid. The 1990's had it's own set of problems just like any other decade.

[@MissJane777]

Me too!

[@BernieSanders-bn5dk]

Now we have Netflix why go out lmao it's 2020+!!!

[@fawh7]

@@BernieSanders-bn5dk What?

[@nebraskajoenelson8987]

@@j.peters1222 your not wrong .....but man life was a whole lot less complicated

[@d.e.belton3515]

I was a huge fan of Discovery Zone when I was a kid. Something about their play areas seemed far more vast and engaging than the ones as competitors. As a kid it felt like you could get lost in there like it was it's own little world and I really dug that. Me and my cousin have lasting marks on our bodies from an outing at one when we were kids, where we both were running around opposite sides of one outer corner of the main play structure, didn't see each other, and cracked heads. I have a scar in the middle of my left eyebrow and he has one right the edge of his hairline. Hair doesn't grow on either of them so we both have these little cosmetic marks tied to each other and the memory of that place. Fun stuff.

[@alantherock225]

It seemed like an entire city in there as a kid

[@NoobNoobNews]

Yeah. it was pretty neat.

[@mygoogleaccount2354]

It was absolutely the sense of independence you could feel in DZ. Most of us had baby boomer parents who were always hovering to make sure we didn't get abducted.

[@maxwillson]

Agree!

[@wdn4l535]

I was like 5 when I went..my older sister took me. I randomly and vaguely remembered the name and immediately thought it was from my dreams...all I remember was being stoked to go and playing lazer tag.

[@Jarekthegamingdragon]

Man, I remember discovery zone and thought about it all the time but I never knew the name! I was a kid in the 90's so I just remember how fun the place was then never knew why we suddenly stopped going.

[@Prshfh]

first

[@LilDiabloRob]

Same. Lol 90s kid here too.

[@ronnybeny4284]

Me two

[@Honey_Daddy]

Dude, i remember the song from one of the commercials like it was yesterday. I loved DZ as a kid

[@cocomunga]

I loved it too

[@izzatihassan1475]

I love how Bright Sun went from "failing theme parks" to "bankrupt big brands". I look forward to the next one!

[@tokiwartooth09]

ending goverments?

[@harlowblackadder356]

😂😂😂

[@trisaratops68]

I continued to be devastated by this as an adult. This place was my absolute favorite when I was a kid. I miss it so much 😭😭

[@pHoToLoVe22]

I know. I am so sad I can’t take my kids, who are now the perfect age for it

[@dvnrhillary]

The same goes for me too. Meanwhile being raised and living in Bronx, New York, DZ was one of my favorite childhood places during the 1990s!

[@Benlucky13]

If you ever visit St. Louis check out the city museum. Like a giant art piece/jungle gym for all ages. Closest I've ever felt to the endless exploration of discovery zone

[@trisaratops68]

@@Benlucky13 yes!!! I’ve heard of that. Gonna have to make a special trip to St. Louis 🥰

[@DNPinthePP]

@@trisaratops68 it’s amazing. So much fun.

[@travisbost469]

I miss DZ when I was a kid I used to pretend that the playground is my version of Legends of the Hidden Temple.

[@princesskristan]

Me too!

[@kearramorales4171]

Same!

[@gringa978]

Omg yasssss

[@ohnoitschris]

hahahahahaha so did I!

[@darthXreven]

that was a pretty cool show actually....a little too young for me at the time but had i been a kid i woulda liked it a lot...I mean I loved double Dare in the 80's so yeah

[@jackiegraham4072]

One of the best days of my childhood was spent at Discovery zone. Man! The memories

[@tendingourgarden]

Same! I still remember it vividly :) What an amazing place and time.

[@Christopher-N]

I've always wondered about businesses like Discovery Zone. Idealistically, everyone has a great time. Realistically, I wonder what the staff must go through to nightly sanitize the play area, and what a nightmare cleaning up a bio contamination must have been. I'm surprised these businesses got off the ground at all.

[@Honey_Daddy]

They probably just didn't sanitize it all. Let's be real. But it was so great as a kid.

[@blackdragon6]

Realistically it's gonna be a tough job. So...

[@TheAruruu]

Honestly, I feel like this sort of thing would be a perfectly fair use case for allowing some child labor. The equipment is literally designed for short, small people. I'm not saying that just any child would be acceptable for cleaning the tubes and similar equipment down, but having a way for those who are willing and competent to earn some money doesn't seem like a bad idea, if it's regulated and monitored appropriately (which I recognize such things rarely are, sadly), particularly when it would likely be painful and difficult for the average adult to clean those fairly tight and confined spaces. Obviously this would exclusively apply to standard cleaning, and not things such as "bio contamination" (ie: bathroom accidents). The ballpits could be sanitized with an automated machine that could be moved around and suck them out, or integrated into the space under the playgrounds that was "off limits", allowing for fairly simple cleaning of "bio contamination" for the staff, which helps to ensure such cleanings actually take place. As for the arcade equipment, they'd get the same kind of cleaning that they would anywhere else.

[@AlohaChips]

@@TheAruruu I was old enough to remember going to a DZ. They offered kneepads for adult parents to be able to crawl around with their kids, and my 40-something dad used them. Yeah crawling around in there to clean regularly might be an annoying task, but the equipment simply was not as impossible for more adult-sized bodies to handle as you're thinking, especially for any mid-to-late teens/early 20-somethings more physically spry than my dad was. Not sure I see enough pros from the mere convenience of children's size to justify routinely exposing them to chemical disinfectant fumes and skin contact in those confined spaces, either. Monitoring these things properly costs money people don't want the government to spend.

[@Tornado1994]

@@Honey_Daddy From what I heard, they only Cleaned and Sanitized twice a day. Sometimes they had to clean Fecal Matter from Toddlers.

[@Jazzy_Waffles]

This one hits home. Growing up in St. Louis, and Discovery Zone was THEE place to go. Almost every kid in my 1st grade class wanted to hold their birthday there. My dad brought him giant cam corder there and I love watching old footage of that place. Lots of memories. Thanks for making this video!

[@WorldwideWyatt]

Upload some of that vintage video and get some views.

[@yotsubafanfan]

At least Y'all in St. Louis have an adult equivalent in the form of the city museum. Complete with pencil slides and ball pits.

[@Misfit_Molly]

👋 fellow St. Louisan!

[@Jazzy_Waffles]

@Chalmers I believe that’s the one! I went to school in Hazelwood, so that was the closest to all us kids!

[@DNPinthePP]

St Charles boi here. Anyone remember Tumble Drum?

[@shannonproctor1207]

I never clicked so fast with my notifications. My little 90’s heart got so excited. I miss this place so much. Can we have an adult version? And Dave and busters doesn’t count.

[@AMissile]

If you’re ever in St. Louis check out the City Museum, It’s the closest adult-friendly equivalent I’ve ever seen, and it’s pretty rad!

[@shannonproctor1207]

@Safwaan a place where I can go in a ball pit and not be judged for being a 32 year old lady.

[@vincentpistoia9034]

@@shannonproctor1207 as a 32 year old man I feel this in the ball pit of my soul.

[@christiandacanay3086]

I think Round 1 is the nearest we'll get since it offered more than just arcade games. It also had some sports for all i guess, does it count?

[@vinnievee5710]

We 100% need an adult discovery zone in our lives. It was seriously so much fun

[@Reiderreiter]

As a 90’s kid, this cuts so deep into my nostalgia for that time. If you or one of your friends were having a party at DZ (where kids wanna be!), there was nothing better. It was a Top 5 day of the year no matter what.

[@solouno2280]

Well, we could go to the cheap version token arcade one once a month.

[@TheTechAdmin]

Anyone remember how sometimes their would be a small gang in a certain section of the tubes? "You're not allowed here" or "pay the toll to pass"

[@menarenotwomen]

4:32 that blue pyramid was called the “mountain climb”. I am not lying it exaggerating in any way. In 1994 when I was 4 years old, I was at my friend’s birthday party at DZ and on the mountain climb I had my left index finger ripped off from the second knuckle up due to faulty equipment. My dad told me all that follows, as I was only 4 and only remember a few bits and pieces. DZ refused to let my dad use the phone to call 911 due to no manager being present. They also didn’t have a first aid kit for use. Luckily one person had a cell phone (as it was 1994) and they called 911 and Dallas FD showed up and said without the other half of my finger, they couldn’t transport me, but only bandage it and my dad take me himself.

[@menarenotwomen]

As they were bandaging my finger, the parents searched for my finger in the ball pit. A parent then came out of the pit with my finger in his hand. The medic took it and they transported me to the hospital. 7 doctors said they couldn’t reattach it. Finally an on call plastic surgeon that specialized in facelifts and tummy tucks said that he would do it. It took over 7 hours and over 100 stitches inside and out. Because DZ had so many open lawsuits due to children being injured, all we got out of it was the medical bills paid for and some stock in the company. But seeing as the company went under fairly soon after, the stock was completely useless. Luckily I still have before use of my finger, it just looks weird lol.

[@FrothingFanboy]

@@menarenotwomen Jesus...glad to hear that it had a kind of ok ending. -_-

[@menarenotwomen]

@@FrothingFanboy haha yeah. I mean it was traumatic at the time but now it’s just a unique story I get to tell lol. Plus a lot of kids got hurt way worse than I did, so it could have been worse.

[@Kokomadeta]

Holy crap.

[@MinorLG]

@@menarenotwomen ya know, i kind of remember a kid loosing a finger on the climb, and us kids helping half empty the ball pit to help find it. But wrong state

[@carressa]

Long story short: Don’t get too cocky. I miss those DZ days! 🥺

[@cheesecakexmod]

My local Discovery Zone is still a indoor children’s entertainment center, has most if not all of the original DZ playground, some decor etc. It’s branded as an Dandy Bear, it’s a one of one, locally own, located here in Miami FL.

[@joeblow7068]

I love Dandy Bear, please have my party there...

[@robertabray-enhus3198]

My kids loved discovery zone as kids in the 90s. I still think something like this should be built for adults!

[@chumbert5]

there’s actually a place in Cincinnati called Discovery Zone that opened last year with no affiliation with the original, but it is heavily inspired by it

[@knightcrusader]

Two, I think. One in Eastgate and one in Florence. This confused me because I went to the original DZ in Florence in like, 1995, and knew it was gone and thought Google maps was playing a trick on me.

[@almilhouse9059]

Hi Moe man

[@azblueauthor8081]

I recently discovered that company. They’ve opened in several states across the Midwest. It appears they did buy the rights to the brand.

[@knightcrusader]

@@azblueauthor8081 You sure? The discoveryzone website doesn't say anything about any locations other than Eastgate, OH and Florence, KY (both greater Cincinnati).

[@keybyss7671]

Shit, I was in Cincy recently! Dammit, I should’ve checked them out. Gotta remember that next time.

[@RyokoAsakuraLastFan]

I think this was the first closer to ever effect me, I remember it so clearly. Our Discovery Zone was massive, The Play area stood atleast 3 stories tale, if not four with a Rope area connecting the two sides (One side was multiple slides, tubes and ball pits, the other was a multi story maze with revolving walls). All my friends, and my niece had there birthdays here.... ...Then my parents finally could afford it for my birthday when I was only in 1st grade. Then when we arrived early, we saw a note on the door, about it being permanently closed...

[@KRSims-tr7zj]

I'm sorry you never got to have your birthday there. That probably happened to a lot of kids when they closed without any notice. I remember begging my mom to go back after I went to a birthday party for one of my classmates, and eventually she explained to me that they were closed forever and I actually cried.

[@RyokoAsakuraLastFan]

@@KRSims-tr7zj It was so much worse as I grew up as 'A poor' So it took alot of saving up for my parents to do something like this. ((Example how Poor, Casual Dining was resecered for Birthdays, Holidays, or Anniversaries. I thought Triscits, wheat thins, Patridge Farm Cookies, and Cheese Cake was for the rich. I didn't have internet while in school from 2003 to 2009 only getting it my senior year. My Grandparents paid for my haircuts and clothes growing up.

[@keldonmcfarland2969]

Wow. That's crushing. Apparently there were hundreds of birthday children and thousands of their guests who showed up expecting the party (and the parents who were expecting the party they paid for), only to find a closed store. This was before social media and good Internet platforms for directly contacting the company, obviously. I'm sure many of the parents were more upset than the kids.

[@RyokoAsakuraLastFan]

@@keldonmcfarland2969 Many places also didn't talk about chains going bankrupt as often they were purchased by other companies

[@romigithepope]

That’s awful. I can’t imagine the feeling. I have kids that age and I know their heart would be crushed

[@ATRichard]

Never went there, but this has 90s vibes written all over it. Even the video footage is nostalgic! Long live the 90s and 2000s!

[@KingCringeson]

I remember the one in Newport News. My parents loved it for a bit till they went in after 3/4 yo me who wanted to stay in the tube. Medical parents were pissed af when they passed puddles of pee & vomit and a toddler pooping down the slide. Fast forward to kindergarten and the twins had a birthday party there. We are were beyond excited to return to this magical place only to show up and the place shuttered.. defeated, our parents settled in the McDonald's across the street that had a play place. I'm about 30 now and still remember this place.. sometimes I wonder if it was a dream but now it all comes back.

[@clunk2824]

Oh Discovery Zone! Haven't heard that name in a while Me, internalyl: Don't quote defunctland, don't quote defunctland-

[@Splater765]

A powerful rat, named Charles entertainment cheese

[@jestucker2268]

The Jorgeson's house, in Leawood, Kansas was amazing. His Discovery Zone concept was really done for his love for his family. I worked for the company that serviced their swimming pool and hot tub. There were tunnels, roller slides, ball pits... all throughout the house. Secret walls that moved, you could go from the kids bedrooms upstairs, through a tunnel through the attic, down a slide, and end up in a ball pit in the basement, it was freaking awesome and they loved showing it off to people.

[@bigkahunaburger5185]

So many business lessons to learn from your videos. Don’t grow too fast, don’t use too much debt, keep up with current trends, and if private equity vultures start circling, that is probably the end of the road. Great content as always!

[@tiberiumgaming]

My dad took me here once in elementary school, probably around 2nd or 3rd grade. Probably one of the best times I’ve ever had as a kid. I wish places like this were still around for the next generation.

[@zachemorgan]

This was one of the best places I ever got to go to as a kid then it was gone. As a kid it seemed like it was heaven because it just disappeared.

[@TheDonYG]

Faaaaaaaaacts🥺 I was lost and confused at the age of 3-4

[@gladitsnotme]

Omg I clicked so fast, I didn't know anyone outside of Maryland had these! I loved tearing through DZ as a kid, it was the best! No arcade but just as fun as Chuck E. I wish there was an adult version, I miss that track-slide-zipline thing the most! I felt like batman on that thing!

[@Randyet62208]

We had them in the St. Louis Mo. area, Illinois side as well. I was to old to play in it but my brothers went.

[@MissJane777]

Same but in Vancouver Washington! Lol

[@GREGZILA3000]

We were spoiled because Port Discovery was right down town

[@gringa978]

North of Boston

[@littleangel4780]

Phoenix had a few too

[@lilbbcloud]

I had my birthday at Discovery Zone and as a kid loved it so much more than Chucky Cheese. After I loved it so much my parents would take me there frequently. I remember when they closed and was wondering what happened. I love this show so much and how it doesn't leave one little bit out of the history and the financial aspect. Never stop making this series please!

[@sherimcdaniel3491]

Jake, Jake, Jake……I cannot recall one single time that I felt let down in ANY way with your work. You are easy to listen to, very knowledgeable about your topic, you deliver that knowledge in a nice, respectful way and, in ALL of your videos, your natural inquisitiveness is clear! Thank you for this one. I’d never heard of this business but I recall names of others you mentioned. It’s too bad that this company wasn’t better at long-term planning.

[@mp4boy]

Yet again Jake's teaching us Europeans about companies we didn't know about. Never heard of Discovery Zone but now feel sad I didn't get to experience it. We had Snakes and ladders and tigers eye here in the UK which seems about as close as we got to it.

[@scuffedah]

You would have LOVED IT

[@Thanos.m]

Also from across the pond so I had no idea this company existed. But being a kid of the late 90s early 2000s this brought back memories I remember kids indoor play areas like this being all the rage all the kids seemed to want their birthdays there. Nowadays they all seem to have vanished

[@egill624]

@@Thanos.m I'm pretty young, a 2010s kid, and I used to live on the same street as a facility similar to these! It was always a blast to go there and it was just a two minute walk away. I wonder if it's still open.

[@ducatidarren3516]

I wondered what they had in Europe during that time. But yes, you really missed a treat with DZ!!

[@masterryman7911]

There was a discovery zone in my area when I was a little kid and I LOVED THAT PLACE. I remember when it closed and I was very sad to see it go, now it’s a rug store. So many good memories.

[@jdtroup198683]

My was a Target

[@KMO325]

Discovery Zone was such a big part of my childhood-amazing how short a time they actually lasted.

[@Lunar_Blacksmith]

DZ was amazing. It still infiltrates my dreams sometimes. We used to have tons of birthday parties there and I still remember what the cake tasted like and the room smelled like. The giant spider web nets were so cool and you could look down on your parents. We used to have rumors the places shut down bc it was impossible to keep clean. I’m glad you made this so I could hear the real reason.

[@Dallen9]

it was a tragedy that was 100% avoidable. It wasn't that DZ had a bad product it was simply poor maintenance and Corporate sabotage. and in truth the Maintenance issues began when Blockbuster and McDonald's stepped in. DZ was an Amazing Indoor entertainment venue.

[@RobJaskula]

I don't blame McDonald's: the Leaps and Bounds in my hometown was wayyyy nicer before it turned into a DZ

[@mariebelladonna437]

Corporate ALWAYS ruins everything. ALWAYS.

[@SimplyBetterDouchebag]

You forgot Chuck E. Cheese, they took about 14 stores.

[@vysharra]

@@RobJaskula Leaps and Bounds supremacy! Finding the ball washer way up at the top of the 3 story climbing area made kings of 6 years olds.

[@Av-vd3wk]

“I’m going DZ (dizzy) at Discovery Zone!” Had my 12th birthday there and boy was it a blast! 😂

[@joshbacon8241]

I bet it was!

[@nickadams2451]

It never ceases to amaze me Jake how you cover these places that only myself and a few handful of people remember. I remember these quite well and in the mid 90s it was all the rage. When the Power Rangers movie was released it was done up with cardboard cut outs placed in the ball pit areas and themed birthday parties. At one point they held all night events which allowed kids to stay thru the night into the mornings. Even then at 12 years old you could tell they were struggling. By 1996 most of them were closed in my hometown. It was creepy seeing them abandoned with the ball pit areas left untouched for a few years. Almost like a time capsule of a short lived era.

[@laurencapp3335]

I remember going to Discovery Zone all the time as a kid. This place was awesome and made Chuck E Cheese look like a county fair compared to a major theme park. By the time I was a teen it was closed. Sad to see such a awesome place fail.

[@bryanglaser88]

One of my fondest memories from my childhood is going to my friend Joey’s birthday party at Discovery Zone, when I was rolling down the roller slide and smashed my nose and bled all over. Good times.

[@Leahi84]

So essentially, corporate America came in, ran it into the ground, and got out when it was sinking. Typical. I remember going to a Discovery Zone once as a kid though it wasn't super memorable. My gf however loved them as a child.

[@chrisclocher]

That's the American way!

[@kattrielladoesstuff]

I remember seeing advertising for these places on TV as a very small child and DESPERATELY wanting to go there. I had completely forgotten about that until I saw the bright colors and snippets from the commercials. You unlocked a long forgotten memory for me, and I thank you for that.

[@user-xx5kk9hx4c]

I went there for my birthday every year as a kid. Fitting how this episode came out on my 31st birthday! Thanks Jake!

[@thedownwardmachine]

If you think the purpose of this corporation was to "boost the activity of young children in North America", or to create jobs, or to make a sustainable business, then sure it has failed. But if its purpose was to grow quickly in a highly leveraged way that enticed a wealthy megacorporation to buy out the founders and make them wealthy, then in that sense it has succeeded.

[@RobinTheBot]

Funny how that works.

[@staringcorgi6475]

This may be unrelated but trying to make Americans fit is like convincing a series killler to not kill

[@SSH0LE.]

i’m so happy to have been born in 92. my town’s DZ was bought and turned into a “wallaby’s” but had the DZ layout. we also had an old school chuck e cheese, a club disney, and a place called “the magic treehouse” which was an indoor play place with a giant tree with a treehouse inside! between our play places, amazing cartoons, and blockbusters the 90s were just tops.

[@ChrisSl8]

Born in 89 and I feel exactly the same way about those days, definitely the best time to grow up.

[@jkseraphim4]

The Men in Black laser tag was so much fun! Chuck e Cheese's was not in my area but DZ was the place to be. It was one of few that made going to the mall fun. When the one shut down, it was super abrupt, all I remember running to for the entrance only to see it was closed, and walking away in tears.

[@crownjules]

I grew up in NYC and remember there being a huge one where all the cool popular 4th graders had their birthday parties. They would have black light hour where they turned off all the lights and let us play under all the glow in the dark black lights. It was so fun.

[@AGFuzzyPancake]

I absolutely loved DZ as a kid but I'm pretty sure I only got to go there once. Until seeing this, I honestly wasn't sure Discovery Zone was even real... like it was just a name I made up as a kid. Thanks for making this!

[@nursestoyland]

Yeah, I think I too went to discovery zone once, but never again Miss that time

[@anastasiamay2852]

Ive never clicked faster in my life. I LOVED discovery zone. There were 2 or maybe 3 in driving distance. I still talk about it and think about it at 33 years old! Thanks Jake!

[@kristenevans4557]

This was my children’s childhood. We went to one in Jacksonville Florida. It was awesome. They loved it and it was great because parents could play with their kids. I crawled all through this place with my oldest who was 7.

[@markknight85]

I remember DZ like it was yesterday. Even the tune of the commercials. My sister and I would do the all night lock-ins and we had the time of our lives there. Memories made for a lifetime. My sister passed away in 2007 at the age of 19. I will have those memories forever. DZ, Discovery Zone

[@zuglymonster]

I have the song in my head now 🎶🎶DZ my discovery zone🎶🎶

[@marcberm]

DZ came and went in the blink of an eye here in Rhode Island. They were around while I was at the top end of their demographic, but I still loved the place. I remember doing a weeklong activity daycamp there once that was all about building with cutting edge (at the time) Lego Technic robotics kits that could be connected to a Commodore 64 and programmed to do things. Had such a blast! In today's world though, does anyone miss themselves (or now their kids) swimming around in nasty germ and who knows what filled ball pits?

[@jsanes4831]

Blockbuster just wanted to practice before they went bankrupt themselves.

[@marcberm]

@@jsanes4831 Lol

[@Varangian_af_Scaniae]

"nasty germ and who knows what filled ball pits" That is the best thing you can do for your child. Let them get dirty and swim in bacteria. Todays and tomorrows children need 70 vaccines just to not die from fresh air in the country side.

[@ohnoitschris]

The ballpits were the best part

[@marcberm]

@Safwaan "let them get dirty and swim in bacteria" I can't with this dude lol

[@TheShift1313]

I still remember the commercials. "Im going DZ at discovery zone, where i can cut loose and be on my own" blast from the past for sure.

[@ChrisSl8]

Brings back memories, we were just watching home movies of my 6th birthday party at the Staten Island, NY Discovery Zone back in January 1995. Pretty much forgot this place existed until we found that video.

[@Knights_Oath]

One of the darkest days of my childhood, was the day my local DZ closed. I was supposed to go there that day and this teenage girl has to explain to the crowd that they were closing for good. People were pissed, one kid was crying as he was supposed to have his birthday party that morning.

[@themoom22]

I'm not even 2 minutes in and I'm just hit so hard with how much I LOVED and MISS this place! I'm torn, do I even want to watch this episode. JAKE, you're really tugging on some heartstrings with this one!

[@tjself9111]

This was my jam as a kid. Every birthday for years

[@Howard007]

We had one in Danbury, Connecticut & it was the best place in the world my friend.. always have loved your videos and this one really hit home. You never cease to amaze us!!!

[@BigBoobsMcGoo]

I remember DZ like some crazed, high energy fever dream. All I can say for sure is the roller slide was the best thing ever to my kid brain.

[@princesskristan]

MY CHILDHOOD! I used to beg my parents to take me there with my siblings. I remember the last time I went there, it was almost empty and it was kind of sad

[@tisFrancesfault]

Places like this were Iconic in the 90s. Those filth pit were great fun as a kid, and some small relief for parents.

[@robbicu]

Thanks for the deep dive, Jake. Your research and time are really appreciated!

[@veronicajacobsen6443]

I worked at a DZ the summer of 1999. It was a pretty good job. I didn’t totally hate it. The balls were cleaned on a pretty regular basis (we had a whole room to wash them and let them dry.) The worst part was kids redeeming tickets for prizes. They would take forever to decide!

[@UnicornDreamsPastelSkies]

And with that, kids across America had to return to grocery stores, museums, and living rooms to cut loose. I celebrated my birthday at DZ in 1994 and 1995. The location in Raleigh Hills, OR (unicorporated place between Portland and Beaverton) is now Ernesto's Italian Restaurant - building is still the same, down the road from the Beaverton CEC no less, which might be the oldest one in that chain outside CA - opened in 1980, though they moved to a new building next door to the original site in the 2000s, where a... Montgomery Ward used to be. That old building was replaced by a Home Depot. I also visited the DZ in O'Fallon, IL (East St. Louis area) once in 1993 (just after that year's floods happened), for a relative's birthday. Don't get me wrong, I sure loved CEC (Skeeball FTW!), but wowie wow, DZ was it's very own thing that I always got excited for. Thanks for the memories and inspiration for the future.

[@mkid4895]

another great episode! thanks Jake!! 👏

[@toastwrld1365]

how is this from 4 days ago??

[@fawh7]

@@toastwrld1365 Patreon

[@The.Fake.Adam.Lulich]

how did you watch this 4 days ago. Can you do this with the stock market ?

[@fawh7]

@@The.Fake.Adam.Lulich Patreon.

[@The.Fake.Adam.Lulich]

@@fawh7 oh

[@MaggieVenhuizen]

I love these entertainment center related videos! Keep it up, dude!

[@cathconnelly]

I was living in a Detroit suburb in 1994 through 1996, and literally every single kid from my elementary school (including myself) had their birthday parties at DZ. I have so many great memories of this place. When we moved back to South Florida in the late 1990s, I remember my dad taking me to FunScape-- it was like a Discovery Zone for older kids and adults, with more video games and VR experiences. No one else seems to remember it, so I wonder if it was only in South Florida. We had two locations, one at the now defunct Riverwalk, and another at the then newly built Cypress Creek Station. Would love to see a deep dive into something like that.

[@rushguy1]

Just wanted to say that Closed For Storm is fantastic, and I eagerly await your next feature documentary.

[@BrightSunFilms]

Thank you!

[@CattyWompus.]

We had a discovery zone in Vancouver WA growing up, I believe it’s now a harbor freight tools. That place was the epitome of fun, a rare treat that I loved more than anywhere else. Fond memories.

[@violinboy345]

I remember growing up in northern Virginia and there was a Discovery Zone near our house and we went to it a couple times as kids. I still remember the amazing colorful indoor play tubes and gym. I still remember sliding down that slide of rollers. I also remember there was this section up above in the tubes that was all ropes and netting like a spiderweb and you could cross from one side of the tube gyms to the other one up above. I always was scared my foot would slip through the rope webbing and I’d somehow fall.

[@AshleyxVlogs]

Oh my god... DZ was our safe haven as kids. I never thought about the possibility that I would see it on this channel! I absolutely love this series, and I'm always so fascinated by your videos. I wondered as a kid what happened to DZ. I remember when they started going downhill, they changed up the "attractions" inside a few times and got more bare bones with each passing month, and then suddenly it was just gone. I can't wait to watch this and finally find out what happened.. Wow... Thank you for this Jake, you rock! (..as always!!)

[@Bingzhong]

I love these because living in the west coast, there's so many brands and chains I've never heard of despite being around so long.

[@michellesimonds7723]

I love these because living in the Pacific Northwest, it rains too much for outdoor amusement parks.😭

[@lovestori98]

We def had them in Cali but they were far

[@UserName-ts3sp]

i mean ive never heard of this but they closed up the year i was born lol

[@FireAngelZero]

I loved this place, used to go during the weekends back in the early 90s when I lived in Puerto Rico.

[@VazDraeStudios]

I had this memory from my childhood for years visiting this awesome place with all the climbing tubes and ball pits and everything but couldnt remember what it was for so long. Then realized it was at a Discovery Zone some time later. It was such a fun and exciting place as a kid. Ours was in a strip mall and is now a Harbor Freight Tools store haha

[@mh76549]

I friggin LOVED Discovery Zone as a kid!! So interesting to hear what had happened to it. Thank you for this video!

[@PhlyDaily]

Jake!!!! TY

[@east_carolina_rail_photos]

PHLOOPER

[@aceous99]

stop shouting u 40 year old geek

[@matthewtuel2747]

This place was like heaven to 8 year old me. Had two big birthday parties there. It was a sad loss that I just didn’t understand at the time.

[@veronicafernandez5998]

No one ever believed me when I talked about this place. It was my favorite. Thanks for this validating video lol

[@alfredohernandez1978]

I love this types of videos keep up the good work.. Waiting for more like this

[@n0m4nic]

It thrived at the perfect time in my youth. It got big when I was young enough to enjoy it, and declined when I was old enough to grow out of it.

[@artistwithouttalent]

First of all, congratulations on the movie Jake! Second I cannot tell you how excited I am for this episode. DZ was a bizarre and wonderful '90s thing. I had my 6th birthday there and for the longest time I had a shirt from the experience. I don't know what happened to it, I probably gave it away, but I still have fond memories of that place.

[@Rodimus13ShelfSpace]

I remember going to Discovery Zone for a summer camp back in the day. It was a lot of fun. Though in my home town there was a older place that was even better. It was called Pandamonium, and it was HUGE. Literally huge. They had taken over this large retail/office space and sprawled the play scape over the entire thing. Multiple levels, lots of tubes and nets, hidey holes everywhere. It was such a cool place. Sadly it closed it's doors in the mid to late 90's as well. * sigh * There are newer places that I can take my son to, but I really wish some of these were still around in some form so I could share that bit of my childhood with him.

[@MySnakeSomnus]

I LOVED Discovery Zone as a kid. LOVED it. Hearing my parents say we could go there was so exciting...my friends and I still talk about it with fondness. We have such clear, positive memories of specific areas in the play area...the room full of criss crossed bungee cords was my jam. An interesting thing for me personally, is that I have one of the ball pit balls that says Discovery Zone on it...a day care center that I worked for somehow acquired a bunch of the balls when DZ closed, and then when that center closed I liberated it as a memento before they could throw them all away.

[@RicksTravelogue]

I never visited Discovery Zone, because they never made it to this reach of Upstate New York, but do remember so many of their ads that ran during the afternoon cartoon blocks ... another thing that slowly departed us during the 1990's. Memories..... *sighs*

[@sudragon2k3]

"Began putting ads in the paper" wow. Back in the days when 'on-line' was the answer to 'where do I dry my washing?'

[@star-k]

Can't wait to watch closed for storm. Another great video as always 🔥

[@fratercontenduntocculta8161]

I really do feel I was a kid at exactly the right time. I started with the NES as my first game console, saw the beginning of Power Rangers, and got to go to DZ with my friends! This place really was a lot of fun, especially down here in FL where it's regularly 90 degrees or above 9 out of 12 months a year. It was super popular too, and I always wondered what happened to such a great idea. Thanks again for investigating for us Jake!

[@Dre0122]

Man I love your comment..Born in 88 and as I get older, I’m beginning to appreciate the 90s more than ever before…It’s like it’s really hitting me now like damn I really got to experience the greatest era ever..lol..I take pride in being a 90s kid now…

[@Madlax99]

We didn't initially have a Discovery Zone here in Northern California (Wine Country). Instead we had a place called Jungle Junction it essentially was the same thing, but with a jungle theme, eventually a couple of years before the Fall of DZ they had taken control of Jungle Junction and and re-branded and taken out the Jungle theme. After DZ closed the location was a Split and became home various businesses over the years, one half still home to a Work World, and the other was a bicycle shop. There was also the superior Tube Town that was paired with a Q-Zar. The latter also closed a good 20 years ago. I remember going to both when I was young, had a good time too.

[@FloralAndFire]

Yep, I've been to both! They had a jungle in Silicon Valley, and a dz in Simi Valley.

[@SenorWoods2722]

@@FloralAndFire there was a DZ in Milpitas

[@FloralAndFire]

@@SenorWoods2722 then it looks like they had the best of both worlds, The Jungle was in Campbell

[@shitty_beatles]

I was thinking about the Jungle too! I think my DZ memories and Jungle memories blur together; but I still remember the commercials and wanting to have my birthday there (advertising works well on kids, I guess) Its silly but I sort of thought discovery zone was a bay area only thing.. kind of like how every bay area kid thought the shane company was **our** friend in the diamond business

[@kandikidzora]

There’s still a Q-Zar near Vallejo!!! I’m not entirely sure where though but my husband goes with a couple friends of his from high school!!

[@Deadwrongallalong]

I’m saving this video for later but I am SO EXCITED to watch it!!! Fave series on KZbin

[@BrightSunFilms]

Thank you!!

[@andrewl9472]

Discovery zone is one of the few things that is almost painfully nostalgic to me. It’s nice to see that there are many others that also remember it fondly.

[@kiocei6089]

thanks for this. i do remember them very well. and always wondered what happened. so sad when something simple like making sure the current stores are upkept well and people are happy. i know my daughter now would of loved something like this more then CC.

[@FireX300]

Finally some bankruptcy videos, please keep going with good work! 👏🏾

[@BrightSunFilms]

Thanks!

[@holodoctor1]

I totally remember leaps and bounds. I don’t think I ever went to a discovery zone. The concept was so fun as a kid. Like going to Disneyland in your own town 😄

[@tlh2188]

FINALLY, an in depth feature on Discovery Zone. DZ at the Dayton Mall in Ohio, and it’s catchy commercials, were a big part of my childhood, and I have found very little content about the company. Can’t even put an estimate on how many birthdays I attended at DZ and Chuck E. Cheese. Both locations were across the street from each other, right next to a Toys R Us, only CEC remains. Thank you for this video and your channel in general!

[@ChrisJohnson-bu6wx]

I grew up going to the Wilmington, Delaware location (where they are headquartered. I miss it so much. The building is now a goodwill and anyone I go there I get major flashbacks and tell my wife stories all about it. Although the building seems much smaller than it did then as a kid

[@Paulkjoss]

We have an exact copy of this business here, its just not called ‘Discovery Zone’. It was founded in early 90’s based on the DZ success, we took the kids there a few times and it was a great way to keep them occupied for an afternoon. Now run by former McDonalds and Burger King execs, they are currently advertising to expand around the country and overseas.

[@bigkahunaburger5185]

What is it called?

[@austinlawler3739]

I loved going there in the early 90's! Probably really only went for about 4-5 years, until I out grew it, but it was fun. I think I had a birthday party there, and I went to tons of birthdays there as well. I have seen much smaller versions of this, but geared towards that 3-6 range. The one I went to turned into Odyssey Fun World or something like that, then has sat abandoned for years.

[@ki4815]

I've been waiting FOREVER for either you or Defunctland to cover DZ lol. It was worth the wait and fueled my nostalgia. Gosh I miss that tube slide or whatever it was called.

[@TecnologiaCasualPR]

There were a couple of them in Puerto Rico 🇵🇷. I used to go to the Hatillo location and the Carolina Shopping Court location. This really reminds me of my childhood and I've always wondered why these locations were closed unexpectedly. Now I know. Thanks for putting this video together.