Who Owns Dave & Buster's?

Dave Corriveau and Buster "James" Corley founded Dave & Buster's in 1982 in Dallas, Texas. The two had operated separate businesses adjacent to each other in the same Dallas shopping center: Corriveau ran a restaurant and bar called "Buster's" (not to be confused with Corley's nickname), and Corley operated an entertainment venue called "Cash McCool's" next door. Customers would eat at Corriveau's establishment and then go next door to play games at Corley's. The two owners recognized that combining dining and entertainment under one roof would capture both revenue streams, and they opened the first Dave & Buster's location on Greenville Avenue in Dallas.

The concept paired a full-service restaurant and bar with a large video arcade called the "Million Dollar Midway," featuring dozens of arcade games, redemption games, and prize displays. The target demographic was adults aged 21 to 45, positioning the brand as an entertainment destination rather than a family restaurant. Alcohol sales were a significant revenue driver, distinguishing Dave & Buster's from family-focused arcade chains like Chuck E. Cheese.

In 1989, Edison Brothers Stores, a St. Louis-based retail company, acquired a controlling interest in Dave & Buster's, providing capital for national expansion. Edison Brothers operated the brand through the 1990s, expanding to multiple major US markets. The company changed ownership several times in the following years. Investcorp acquired Dave & Buster's from Edison Brothers in 1995. The brand was later acquired by Wellspring Capital Management in 2004, which took the company public with an IPO in 1997 before taking it private again.

Dave & Buster's went public for the second time in October 2014, listing on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under ticker symbol PLAY. The IPO priced at $16 per share and raised approximately $94 million. Following the IPO, the company pursued an aggressive expansion strategy, growing from approximately 70 locations in 2014 to over 140 by 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 forced temporary closures of all Dave & Buster's locations, resulting in a net loss of $207 million for fiscal 2020. The company reopened locations in 2021 and saw revenue rebound as consumers returned to in-person entertainment. In 2022, the company acquired Main Event Entertainment, a bowling and entertainment chain, for approximately $835 million in a cash and stock transaction. The acquisition added over 50 Main Event locations to the portfolio and expanded the company's footprint in the family entertainment segment.

As of February 3, 2026, the company operated 243 venues: 179 Dave & Buster's stores in 43 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada, and 64 Main Event stores in 22 states. The company opened 11 new stores in fiscal 2025 (eight Dave & Buster's and three Main Event) and remodeled 16 Dave & Buster's stores, bringing the total to 51 remodeled stores since the remodel program began in the second half of fiscal 2023. The company also has four international franchise locations in early-stage development.

The company reported a net loss of $48.7 million for fiscal 2025, compared to net income of $58.3 million in fiscal 2024 and $126.9 million in fiscal 2023. Comparable store sales have declined for three consecutive years, reflecting competitive pressures from at-home entertainment options and macroeconomic headwinds affecting discretionary spending.