Pepi's Pizza
Pepi's Pizza
Pepi's Pizza (formerly operating out of Phoenix, Arizona) was an 1980's and 1990's restaurant known for its animatronic performances, operating in the same tradition as ShowBiz Pizza and Chuck E. Cheese. The animatronics were essentially retrofitted characters from the older Pistol Pete's Pizza stages, and many locations were managed by the same operators before transitioning into Peter Piper Pizza.
The Pepi's Animatronic Legacy
The Characters: The show featured multiple interactive animatronic characters. One of the most famous roles required an actor to wear a physical Billy Bob Brockali bear costume for children's birthdays, which was a hallmark of the location.
The Tech: Much like other 1980's animatronic restaurants, the characters were built by robotics and sound technicians using early pneumatic cylinders for movements.
Show Design: Pepi's stage setups were closely modeled after the "3-stage" formats commonly seen in retrofitted ShowBiz locations, with mechanical puppets, singing animals, and musical numbers.
PEPI101B/PEPI101N
Catalog # (Rarity)- PEPI101B (1), PEPI101N (3)
Diameter- .984
Obverse Text- Pepi's Pizza, RWM
Reverse Text- No Cash Value, RWM
Variety- Long, close reverse denticles
Notes- Struck in coin orientation
PEPI102B/PEPI102N
Catalog # (Rarity)- PEPI102B (1), PEPI102N (3)
Diameter- .984
Obverse Text- Pepi's Pizza, RWM
Reverse Text- No Cash Value, RWM
Variety- Long, wide reverse denticles
Notes- Struck in medal orientation
PEPI103B
Catalog # (Rarity)- PEPI103B (3)
Diameter- .984
Obverse Text- Pepi's Pizza, RWM
Reverse Text- No Cash Value, RWM
Variety- Short reverse denticles, wide RWM
Notes- Struck in medal orientation
PEPI104B
Catalog # (Rarity)- PEPI104B (2)
Diameter- .984
Obverse Text- Pepi's Pizza, RWM
Reverse Text- No Cash Value, RWM
Variety- Short reverse denticles, Close RWM
Notes- Struck in medal orientation
PEPI105B
Catalog # (Rarity)- PEPI105B (1)
Diameter- .984
Obverse Text- Pepi's Pizza, RWM
Reverse Text- No Cash Value, RWM
Variety- Very thin reverse denticles
Notes- Struck in medal orientation
PEPI106B
Catalog # (Rarity)- PEPI106B (1)
Diameter- .984
Obverse Text- Pepi's Pizza, RWM
Reverse Text- No Cash Value, RWM
Variety- Mintmark under E in Value
Notes- Struck in medal orientation
PEPI201B
Catalog # (Rarity)- PEPI201B (2)
Diameter- .900
Obverse Text- Pepi's Funland, No Cash Value
Reverse Text- Good at Pepi's Funland
Variety-
Notes- Struck in medal orientation