Dave & Buster’s opened Monday with its most die-hard fans showing up for the morning opening of the place that has been dubbed “Chuck E. Cheese’s for adults.”
The opening at 212 E. River Park Circle, at the southeast corner of Friant Road and Highway 41 in Fresno, drew a small crowd but is sure to attract more as word that it’s open gets out.
Customers were invited in to the combination of arcade games, restaurant and bar after a brief grand opening ceremony.
At the Dave & Buster's opening. Not a huge crowd but the die hards turned out. @FresnoBee@km_squaredpic.twitter.com/IceBpoe6Px
— Bethany Clough (@BethanyClough) October 17, 2016Get full access to The Fresno Bee content across all your devices.
Among the most colorful customers was Jill Bernstein of Sunnyvale. She loves the Dave & Buster’s in San Jose, but traveled six hours – via bus and train while in a wheelchair – and dressed up as Cinderella for the opening.
She says the Dave & Buster’s back home is her “hangout place” and thought it would be fun to dress up in her Cinderella Halloween costume, complete with face glitter and a tiara.
“I just love Dave & Buster’s, period,” she says. “I just thought it would be perfect. Pokemon glazed legendary list. I decided it would be fun.”
She brought stuffed penguins she won from the prize room in San Jose as a present for a manager transferring from the San Jose location to the Fresno location.
Mostly adults were checking out the place Monday morning, but Dave & Buster’s is open to all ages. It has a bar and customers were walking around the games with a glass of beer in hand.
People under age 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is 25 or older. Adults can chaperone up to six people each.
One such young person was Emily Montes, 12, of Fowler – yes, her mom took her out of school for the day.
Emily “trains” for the claw machine game by watching YouTube videos that detail how to win prizes. Half an hour after the opening she had won four giant balls and two stuffed animals.
She honed her skills by going to the Dave & Buster’s in Milpitas, during visits to family there.
“I know it’s more ‘adult,’” says her mom, Maria Montes, but “we come for the games and the food.”
Dave & Buster’s has 230 employees who were hired from 7,800 applications.
The city of Fresno had warned about possible traffic backups on the already busy Friant Road/Highway 41 exit. Construction for the Bus Rapid Transit project also could have complicated traffic in the area.
Fresno Police Lt. Joe Gomez said no traffic problems were noted at the opening.
And there was plenty of parking available Monday in the center it shares with several large office buildings.
Dave & Buster’s – one of the most highly anticipated new businesses in town in years – will likely draw an even bigger crowd as people get out of work and come on the weekends.
Unlike grocery stores and new chain restaurants that draw hundreds with the promise of prizes and free food, Dave & Buster’s opening was relatively low key.
The first person in line, Valerie Vasquez of Fresno, won a teddy bear and a “power card” – Dave & Buster’s version of game tokens – with $100 loaded on it.
“We wanted to be the first ones in line to a Dave & Buster’s,” she says – even though neither she nor her co-worker Mark Tobias of Fresno had ever been to a Dave & Buster’s before.
They got there at 8:30 a.m. for the 10:30 a.m opening. She’s a mail carrier and the building is on her route.
“This was all dirt” at first, she says, adding that she’s watched the building go up over the last few months.
Dave & Buster’s is open from 11 a.m. to midnight Mondays through Thursdays, until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays, it’s open from 10 a.m. to midnight.
Bethany Clough: 559-441-6431, @BethanyClough
This app is only available on the App Store for iOS devices.
Dave & Buster’s Charging Station App
SKIP THE LINE and get your Power Card all charged up for the games at Dave & Buster’s! Now you can re-charge your Power Card from your phone. Power up your Power Card with the press of a button and keep on playing all the games at Dave & Buster's. The fun does not have to stop.
You now have the ability to redeem an offer as part of the recharge process on the Power Card you choose.
• Never wait to recharge your Power Card again - do it right from your smartphone
• See your Power Cards chip, ticket and Rewards balances (the D&B Charging Station App login credentials are not related to the D&B Rewards login process)
• Looking for some EPIC FUN? Just tap the Locations button and find the nearest Dave & Buster’s by state, zip code, or address
What do you need to get started with the Dave & Buster's Charging Station App?
Just your Dave & Buster's Power Card. Simply register the card in the Dave & Buster’s Charging Station App. (If your Power Card does not have a 4-digit PIN on the back, you will need to visit your local D&B to get a new card.) If you want to re-charge the Power Card, just enter your credit card information and select a recharge amount. You are ready to hit the games!
How can I get some FREE game play?
Join the Rewards program at https://www.daveandbusters.com/rewards/ to receive $10 in FREE game play! Please note: even if you have a Dave & Buster's Rewards account, you will need to create a Dave & Buster's Charging Station App account.
Become a fan of Dave & Buster's on Facebook
http://facebook.com/daveandbusters
Follow us on Twitter
http://twitter.com/daveandbusters
Note: Canadian payment card processing not available at this time, will be available soon.
THANK YOU for using the D&B Charger app!
This release brings:
- In-app review
- Messages
- Performance enhancements, bug fixes
This app used to offer a buy $20 get $20 everyday except on Wednesday’s (half priced games). Now every time I have checked there are zero offers..it’s a shame. I have some PTA coupons for the same offer but then I have to reload in-store which despite the friendly staff is a hastily and the point of charging the cards up PRIOR to going.
Used to LOVE the ability to pre-charge our cards, walk in and get to gaming!!! Now we’ve got to do the re-charge song and dance at the kiosks again if I want to go with a coupon (which given the massively high point costs for the games, a coupon is almost certainly needed)..and lets be honest, D&B doesn’t lose money having those BOGO offers so bring them back please!! My kids are begging me to go again but I’m still waiting..:-)
Emailed and got an offer added to my account valid for 1 week. They are not doing offers for the time being - my issue is that it’s like if all of a sudden Little Caesar’s made their pizza’s $9 vs. $5..it’s still cheap but for YEARS you’ve paid $5. $20 at Dave and Busters does not go a long way - especially if you’re trying new games..so either make the games more affordable or bring back offers!
Hello MrLockwood. We apologize that you're running into trouble with the app. Would you please email us at [email protected]? Please include a quick description of the issue you're experiencing as well as the mobile number that you use to login to the app; we will investigate the exact issue you're running into. The app is supported with 24/7/365 customer care. Please reach out to us and allow us to help out if you have any other issues.
I reloaded my power card earlier in the day to save time and skip the line. However once I arrived my card didn’t work and the employees told me that there is nothing they can do about the amount I purchased on the app. Even though the app showed my balance as well as the website. They simply said D&B could not transfer my points to a new card and I am more than welcome to purchase and reload a new card. So.. beware when loading your card on this app.
Update:
Turns out this issue is not with the app but rather the location unable to “roam” my card. I had to go back to the DnB location 3x before I was able to fix the issue. Once I was playing the best thing was reloading your card while wasting your credits on the big claw machine for a big stuffed animal you don't really want. It was so nice to not have to walk across the arcade to reload. This app is a MUST if you are a frequent visitor.
I used to love this app but today I tried to reload my card using on of the offers on the app and I was charged $80 dollars but did not receive any chips. Update 7/4/18: My card was refunded the money a few days after the incident with the app but after emailing and calling corporate to receive some kind of human assistance with this issue I was unable to get ahold of anyone. It is my understanding that there is now a support email that is now available for issues like these but only time will tell if it helps. Update 7/6/18: I have been in contact with someone at cooperate and it is reassuring that they are taking the right steps to ensure the best service for their customers. Seeing this makes me open to trying the app again as it is obvious that they right changes are being made for the future.
Hi there, we apologize for the issues you had with the app. Can you please email us at [email protected]? We want to make sure your payment was properly refunded and ensure you're taken care of. In your email let us know the problem you experienced and the mobile number that you use to login the app. Also, please know that we recently launched 24/7/365 support so no one ever has this problem again.
Requires iOS 10.3 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
With Family Sharing set up, up to six family members can use this app.
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Public | |
Traded as | NASDAQ: PLAY S&P 600 Component |
---|---|
Industry | Entertainment/Restaurant (Eatertainment) |
Founded | Dallas, Texas (1982) |
Founder | David O. Corriveau James W. 'Buster' Corley |
Headquarters | Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
128[1] | |
Key people | Stephen M. King, CEO[2] |
Website | www.daveandbusters.com |
Dave & Buster's is an American restaurant and entertainment business headquartered in Dallas.[3] Each Dave & Buster's has a full-service restaurant and a video arcade. As of May 2019, the company has 128 locations in the United States and Canada, with more announced to open in the near future.[1]
The first Dave & Buster's was opened in Dallas in 1982 by David Corriveau and James 'Buster' Corley. Corley had previously operated a bar called 'Buster's' in Little Rock, AR next door to a saloon and game parlor called 'Cash McCool's', owned by Corriveau.[4] After opening Dave & Buster's, the two operated as co-CEOs.[5]
In 1989, Edison Brothers Stores purchased a majority ownership in the restaurant to finance further expansion into other cities.[4] Dave & Buster's was spun off from Edison Brothers, and went public with Andy Newman as chairman in 1995.[6] By 1997 the chain had ten locations across the country.[7]
D&B acquired nine Jillian's locations after Jillian's filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy[8][9] in 2004. Seven of these Jillian's locations were rebranded with the Dave & Buster's name, while two were closed following the acquisition. The company announced on December 8, 2005, that it would be acquired by private equity firm Wellspring Capital Management.[10]On July 16, 2008, Dave & Buster's Holdings Inc, filed with the SEC to again become a publicly traded company.[11] The company had set a date for the Initial public offeringIPO of October 5, 2012.[12] However, it pulled out right before it opened. In June 2010, Oak Hill Capital Partners, in partnership with the company's management team, completed its acquisition of Dave & Buster's from Wellspring Capital Management.[13]
In October 2014, Dave & Buster's launched a second IPO, selling 5.88 million shares at an offering price range of $16–18.[14] The offering raised $94 million, to be used for debt repayments.[14] Shares are traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange using the symbol PLAY.[14]
Items on the Dave & Buster's menu are offered from early lunch until late night and include pastas, burgers, steaks, seafood, chicken and desserts. The menu is frequently updated to reflect current trends and guest favorites. Some locations serve Sunday brunch. Buffets are available for special events and private parties. All D&Bs offer full bar service.[15]
Dave & Buster's dubbed their arcade section 'Million Dollar Midway' which features interactive games and simulators.[16][17] In 1997, Dave & Buster's introduced the Power Card, a declining balance card or 'debit card' that replaces traditional tokens and tickets, and is required to activate most arcade games and can be reloaded at so called 'power stations'. The Power Card is intended to enable customers to activate games more easily and encourage extended play of games to increase customer spending.[18][19] By replacing most coin operations, the Power Card has reduced the technical difficulties and maintenance issues associated with coin-operated equipment. In 2015, Dave & Buster's installed proximity debit card readers that allow guests to simply tap on the readers to play.[20]
Dave & Buster's is a corporate sponsor of the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization. There are screening rooms for every UFC pay-per-view and episode of The Ultimate Fighter. D&B also sponsors the charity Dave Bevans' Children in the fundraising event 'D&B for DB's'.[citation needed]
Prior sponsorships include a World Wrestling Entertainment match and a 2009 tour by the rock bandBowling for Soup. The WWE match took place on the July 20, 2009, edition of WWE Raw on the USA Network. It is believed to be the first match on any WWE program to have a specific sponsor associated with it.
Dave & Buster's also sponsors postgame reports of San Jose Sharks games.[21][citation needed]