Who Owns Dave & Busters? I Uncover the Apollo Takeover

Remember those nights at Dave & Buster's? Lights flash bright. Games buzz loud. You grab prizes from the claw machine, ticket in hand, grinning wide.

If you've ever asked who owns Dave and Busters, here's the quick answer. Apollo Global Management does. They bought it in 2024 for $3.6 billion.

Dave & Buster's went private in that deal. No more public stock trades. It's all under Apollo's wing now.

Folks search this out of plain curiosity. Big chains like this one spark questions. Who pulls the strings behind the fun?

In this post, I'll walk you through it all. We start with the founders who kicked things off in the 80s. Then track the ownership shifts over decades. We'll spotlight Apollo as current owners.

And I'll share what this means for your next night out with games, food, and drinks.

Ever wondered how your favorite spot got here? Stick around.

The Founders: How Dave and Buster Started It All

Picture us sharing nachos at Dave & Buster's, tickets spilling from your cup. Who owns Dave & Busters today? Apollo does. But it all began with two guys in 1982 Dallas. The Dave and Busters founders, Dave Corriveau and Buster Corley, dreamed up a spot that mixed hearty food, cold drinks, and buzzing games.

Crowded tables overflowed with plates of burgers and fries. Crowds cheered as skee-ball tickets rained down. Here's how they sparked the magic.

Dave Corriveau's Big Idea

I love Dave's story. He grew up in Canada, hooked on video games and pinball from a young age. By his 20s, he chased bigger dreams south to Texas. Restaurants became his world; he managed spots where sizzling steaks met happy guests.

Dave saw a gap. Why not blend arcade fun with real meals? Games alone felt empty. Food alone missed the buzz. He pitched the combo to backers: eat well, play hard, all under one roof.

One fun tale sticks out. Dave tested the idea at a Dallas bar. He hauled in a few machines. Folks ignored food lines but jammed games.

That lit the fire. In 1982, he opened the first spot on 1930s Greenville Avenue. Lines snaked out the door. Servers dodged cheering players. Dave nailed it.

Buster Corley's Bar Magic

Enter Buster Corley, the bar pro who sealed the deal. He owned Dallas haunts, slinging drinks with charm. His sales skills shone; he'd chat up crowds, pour perfect drafts, and keep nights alive.

Dave needed that edge. Buster jumped in as partner. Together, they fused Dave's game vision with Buster's bar smarts. Food drew families. Drinks packed evenings. Games glued it all.

Early days tested them. Cash flowed slow at first. Rivals laughed at the mash-up. They beat it with grit. Buster hustled suppliers for deals. Dave tweaked menus for speed.

Key facts on the Dave and Busters founders:

• 1982: First Dallas location opens, 40 games, full bar.
• 1983: Lines grow; they add more machines.
• Mid-80s: Expand to two spots as word spreads.

Success hit fast. Bustling rooms proved them right. This duo built the base for what Apollo now owns.

Ownership Shifts: From Public Company to Private Hands

I chased the dave and busters ownership history back through stock tickers and deal memos. What I found shows a chain that swung from Wall Street crowds to private boardrooms.

Public trades fueled fast growth. Then buyouts promised fresh cash.

Here's a simple timeline of the key flips:

These moves shaped the chain you know. Let's break down the early swings.

The 1995 Stock Market Jump

Dave and Buster eyed the public markets in 1995. They filed for an IPO on NASDAQ under DBST. Wall Street buzzed. Investors snapped up shares at $16 each. The stock rocketed 42 percent on day one. Traders high-fived amid flashing screens.

Cash poured in: $44 million raised. I picture founders grinning as checks cleared. They plowed it straight into growth.

New spots popped up fast. From 13 locations, they hit 27 by 1997. Cities like Chicago and Atlanta lit up with neon signs and game hums.

Crowds packed the fresh sites. Servers rushed burgers past skee-ball lanes. Revenue doubled to $270 million by 1998.

Stores averaged 40,000 square feet now, stuffed with 100-plus games. This boom proved the mash-up worked nationwide. Shares climbed over time. It felt unstoppable back then.

Private Equity Era Before Apollo

Texas Pacific Group stepped in during 2006. They snapped up Dave & Buster's for $1.6 billion. No more public shareholders. Private hands meant quick fixes. TPG cut costs and tweaked menus.

They added 20 spots in four years. Sales ticked up amid bar games and buffalo wings.

Ups followed. Profits grew 15 percent yearly at peaks. But downs hit too. Economy soured in 2008.

Guests cut back on nights out. Then 2010 brought relisting. Shares returned to NASDAQ. Fresh capital helped expand to 60 locations.

Growth stalled later. Pandemic crushed it in 2020. Stores shut for months. Revenue plunged 75 percent. Debt piled up.

I see empty arcades, silent midway bells. These struggles set the stage for Apollo's 2024 grab. Private equity sharpened the chain but exposed risks too.

Apollo Global Management: The Current Bosses

I've dug into who owns Dave and Busters today, and it points straight to Apollo Global Management. These folks run the show now. Picture sharp investors in sleek offices, spotting gold in buzzing arcades full of laughter and clinking glasses.

Apollo snapped up Dave & Buster's in 2024 for $3.6 billion. The deal took it private, so no more public shareholders watch every move. It's all Apollo's call, with leaders like Marc Rowan, the steady CEO who guides the firm.

Apollo loves brands that spark fun. They pour cash into spots where people unwind, eat big, and chase prizes.

Think crowded game floors and frosty beers. For those searching who owns Dave and Busters Apollo, that's your answer. Smart money eyes the arcade empire.

Here are three quick Apollo facts that stand out:

• Massive scale: They handle over $700 billion in assets, fueling deals like this one.
• Proven track record: Marc Rowan co-founded it in 1990; he took CEO reins in 2021 after building Wall Street cred.
• Fun focus: They back leisure hits, from resorts to entertainment chains that pack crowds.

This buy fits their playbook. Growth waits in every ticket strip.

Why Apollo Picked Dave & Buster's

Post-pandemic, crowds rushed back to real fun. Dave & Buster's rebounded strong. Sales jumped 20 percent in 2023 as families ditched screens for skee-ball and wings. Apollo saw the trend: people crave live buzz over apps. Stores filled fast; revenue hit record highs.

Synergies sweetened the pot. Apollo holds stakes in other eateries and leisure spots. Pair Dave & Buster's games with their resort plays, and you build a fun network. Shared suppliers cut costs.

Cross-promos draw bigger groups. It's like linking pizza nights to water slides.

Growth potential sealed it. Debt cleared in the deal lets stores expand. New tech upgrades games.

Apollo bets on 10 percent yearly sales bumps. Empty seats turn to cheers. They bought at a smart price, $18.50 per share, total $3.6 billion including debt.

No public pressure means bold moves ahead. Your next visit? Expect fresh energy.

What Apollo Ownership Means for Fans and Future Growth

Apollo owns Dave & Buster's now, and that shift promises real perks for fans like you and me. No more Wall Street demands mean they focus on operations, not quarterly reports.

Customer favorites stick around: those endless ticket rolls, loaded nachos, and group deals. I see brighter lights and louder cheers ahead.

Worried about prices? Apollo cleared debt in the deal, so they invest in value, not hikes. Think upgrades that pack more fun per dollar.

The Dave & Busters future under Apollo looks solid; they spot growth in packed rooms and repeat visits. Your nights out get better. What's your favorite game to crush there?

Expansions and New Features Coming Soon

Apollo's deep pockets fuel big plans. News hints at 10 to 15 new stores yearly, hitting spots like the Midwest and Sun Belt. Picture fresh neon signs in your town, drawing crowds for skee-ball and beers.

They tie upgrades to ownership cash. No public stock pressure lets them roll out changes fast.

Here's what I expect soon:

1. More locations: Targets underserved cities; doubles footprint in five years.
2. VR and tech games: Immersive headsets replace old cabinets; laser tag gets apps.
3. Menu tweaks: Healthier bites join wings; quick eats speed up lines.
4. Loyalty boosts: App perks for free plays; family packs grow.

These moves build on rebound sales. Fans win with fresh buzz. I can't wait to test that VR shooter myself.

Conclusion

Dave & Buster's started with two dreamers in 1980s Dallas, blending games, food, and drinks into packed nights of cheers and ticket storms. Ownership flipped through public trades, private buyouts, and now lands with Apollo Global Management.

They grabbed it in 2024 for $3.6 billion, clearing debt and fueling fresh growth. If you search who owns Dave and Busters, Apollo runs the show, backing expansions, VR games, and more spots to light up your town.

This takeover means brighter arcades, tastier wings, and endless skee-ball wins for us fans. No stock market noise lets them chase what we love: fun that pulls families and friends close under flashing lights.

Head to your nearest Dave & Buster's soon. Grab those nachos, crush some games, and make memories that stick.

Share your best prize haul or wild night in the comments below. What's your go-to game? I can't wait to hear. There you have it, straight from my dig into the story. The buzz keeps rolling stronger. See you at the midway.