(Image from a D&B location in the Northwest, USA)
There are not many big chains of arcades or FECs in the Western world but there are a few. One of those, Dave & Busters, has become quite well-known over the past several years and their 
ability to pick up many of the newest releases means that it is a go-to place for the latest and greatest in the industry. Their overall formula has brought success and with success comes growth – more stores, more jobs, more games, – everybody wins. According to Intergame (sorry this is a few weeks old so catching up), the 3rd quarter of 2013 was so good that the CEO of Dave & Busters described it as “record-setting”. Thanks to that and their own future projections, they announced that they plan on opening “between seven and eight” new stores in 2014, which builds on the five stores opened in 2013.
As to those stores opened in 2013, those flew under our radar but according to the current D&B website, the latest four locations they opened are in Syracuse and Albany, NY; one in Cary, NC and one in Livonia, MI.
I look forward to seeing how they manage their growth through this year. Economies are dynamic so you never know how things might change but at the moment D&B isn’t the only chain that has announced plans to expand, I have been made aware of Round 1 USA looking to go outside of California and get into Texas this year(UPDATE: On Facebook commenter Jordan mentioned that the Texas location will open this Summer and they have a Chicago location opening in the Fall). So with many new games on their way and more locations opening that will be able to grab them, the outlook is good for digital out-of-home entertainment.
[H/T DNA News]
Hopefully, one opens up in the new Palm Beach Outlets shopping area in West Palm Beach, FL.
There’s already four in Florida – two in South Florida alone. They don’t need a third one in the region.
I live in Jupiter, though, and none of them are within a close drive for me. It’s either a hour and a half drive to Hollywood, or a two hour drive to Orlando, and the closest FEC to me in Lake Worth doesn’t really take care of their games.
West Virginia d@mn it!!!
http://m.simon.com/store.aspx?tid=88560&id=1204
The next FL. D&B will be open 4/2014 at Pier Park Panama City, FL
They’re doing a game changer in Los Angeles
http://hhpromenade.com/
Next month they’re opening. This is a game changer but I’m sure its gonna look a lot like X-lanes. But this is the second arcade (besides X-Lanes) to open up in a major area of Los Angeles in a real long time. I’m sure its gonna kill in that area
I need a Round1 anywhere near the Tri-State, preferably in NYC or Long Island, but I’d take Jersey or Connecticut too!
oh great news for americanos but uk… hm 🙁
Come on Rochester NY
Please Canadian Locations come on already
There is a D&B under construction in Greenville, SC.
I honestly am excited for it to come this close to my area. It’s probably going to open sometime in November or December 2014.
I’m a little concered if it’s going to get in any Model 3 or NAOMI-era Sega games like ‘Harley-Davidson & L.A. Riders’ or ‘The House of the Dead 2’. I think D&B stopped distributing Harley-Davidson for newer stores.
D&B is slated to open next month on Nov. 17, 2014 in Greenville. I will definitely check that out considering I live in Spartanburg which is about 35 minutes away.
Let’s see how many locations have opened this year: Vernon Hills, IL; Hollywood; Los Angeles (Westchester); Manchester, CT; Greenville, SC; Clackamas (Portland, OR) and Albequrque. So that is approximately 7 new stores opening this year!
The Greenville one looks about average in size at 26-27,000 sq. ft. Honestly though, it’s pretty astounding to hear about Dave & Buster’s coming this close to me… unless doesn’t have ‘Harley-Davidson & L.A. Riders’ in, I ain’t going. lol JK sorta