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Dave & Buster's facts for kids
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| Public | |
| Traded as | NASDAQ: PLAY S&P 600 Component |
| Industry | Entertainment/Restaurant (Eatertainment) |
| Founded | August 31, 1982, in Dallas, Texas |
| Founder | David O. Corriveau James W. "Buster" Corley |
| Headquarters |
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
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Number of locations
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156 |
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Key people
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Chris Morris (CEO) |
| Subsidiaries | Main Event Entertainment |
Dave & Buster's is a fun place where you can eat, drink, and play games! It's a restaurant and entertainment business based in Dallas, USA. Each Dave & Buster's location has a full restaurant, a bar for adults, and a huge arcade. This arcade is famously known as the "Million Dollar Midway." As of September 2023, there are 156 locations in the United States, two in Puerto Rico, and two in Canada.
Contents
History of Dave & Buster's
The very first Dave & Buster's opened in Dallas in 1982. It was started by two friends, David "Dave" Corriveau and James "Buster" Corley. Before this, Buster had a bar in Arkansas. Next door, Dave owned a game parlor. They decided to combine their ideas to create a place with both food and games.
In 1989, a company called Edison Brothers Stores bought a big part of Dave & Buster's. This helped them open more locations in different cities. Dave & Buster's later became its own public company in 1995. By 1997, there were ten locations across the country.
Dave & Buster's bought nine locations from another entertainment chain called Jillian's in 2004. Seven of these were changed into Dave & Buster's stores. The company was later bought by an investment firm in 2005.
Dave & Buster's in Manchester, Connecticut
In 2014, Dave & Buster's became a public company again. This means people can buy shares of the company on the stock market. Their shares are traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the symbol "PLAY."
Sadly, co-founder David Corriveau passed away in 2015. James "Buster" Corley, the other co-founder, passed away in 2023.
Like many businesses, Dave & Buster's was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many locations had to close or limit how many people could visit. This caused their sales to drop a lot in 2020. But as things got better, the company started to recover in 2021.
Main Event Joins the Family
The inside of a Dave & Buster's in Marietta, Georgia
In 2022, Dave & Buster's bought another family entertainment chain called Main Event Entertainment. Main Event is known for having activities like bowling and laser tag, and it often targets families with younger children. Dave & Buster's usually targets young adults.
Now, Main Event operates as a separate brand. However, both Dave & Buster's and Main Event have similar rules for young visitors. If you are under 18 or 21 (depending on the location), you usually need to be with an adult guardian who is at least 25 years old. This guardian can bring a maximum of six younger guests. Some locations also have a curfew, meaning guests under 21 must leave by 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
Before Main Event joined Dave & Buster's, Main Event had already bought a chain called Summit Entertainment Centers in Colorado. These locations were soon changed to Main Event stores.
New Store Ideas
In 2023, Dave & Buster's started trying out a new store design called the "store of the future." This new design includes fun new games like electronic darts and shuffleboard. It also has updated bar areas with self-serve beer walls for adults, huge TVs, and special "VIP watch rooms." These new ideas are now being added to more locations.
How Dave & Buster's Works
Food and Drinks
Dave & Buster's offers a wide variety of food, from lunch to late-night snacks. Their menu includes things like pastas, burgers, steaks, seafood, chicken, and desserts. They often update their menu to offer new and popular dishes. Some locations even serve Sunday brunch. If you're having a special event or party, they can also provide buffets. All Dave & Buster's locations have a full bar for adults. Remember, Dave & Buster's is mostly for adults, so guests under 21 usually need to be with an adult guardian.
Games and the Power Card
The arcade section at Dave & Buster's is called the "Million Dollar Midway." It's filled with exciting video games and simulators. In 1997, Dave & Buster's introduced the Power Card. This special card replaced old tokens and paper tickets. You use the Power Card to play most arcade games. You can add more game credits to your card at special "power stations." The Power Card makes it easier to play games and encourages people to play longer. It also helps reduce problems that used to happen with coin-operated machines.
In 2015, they made it even easier to play. Now, you can just tap your Power Card on the game readers. Since 2020, you can even add your Power Card to your phone's digital wallet, like Google Pay or Apple Wallet, through their "DING DING DING" app.
Events and Special Partnerships
Dave & Buster's often partners with different groups. They are a sponsor of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which is a big sports organization. This means you can often watch UFC events in special viewing rooms at Dave & Buster's. They also support a charity event called "D&B for DB's."
In the past, Dave & Buster's has sponsored other fun events. This includes a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) match and a tour by the rock band Bowling for Soup. The WWE match was a special event on TV that had Dave & Buster's as a sponsor. They also sponsor post-game reports for the San Jose Sharks hockey team.
Dave & Buster's Around the World
Dave & Buster's tried to open restaurants in the United Kingdom in 1998. They opened two locations there, but they were not very successful and have since closed.
However, in 2022, the company announced new plans to expand internationally. They made a deal to open new locations in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt.
Images for kids
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Dave & Buster's current logo.