Who Own Dave And Buster's Now

Hey, so you're curious about who actually owns Dave & Buster's these days? Funny enough, most people walk in, grab some nachos, and start flinging Super Skee-Ball like their childhood depends on it. But rarely does anyone stop to ask, "Wait, who's the big boss behind all this madness?"

Well, grab your latte and settle in, because the answer is actually kind of juicy.

The Long Story, Shortened

Dave & Buster's started way back in 1982 when two buddies, Dave Corriveau and James "Buster" Corley, teamed up. They figured combining arcade games with bar food was a genius idea. Turns out? They were absolutely right, and the chain has been growing ever since.

But here's the thing — the founders are long gone from the ownership picture. Over the decades, the company went through hands like a board game with way too many players. It's been bought, sold, and shuffled around more times than a deck of cards at a Vegas table.

Enter Apollo and the Big Merger

Back in 2007, Apollo Global Management, a massive private equity firm, bought Dave & Buster's. Sounds glamorous, right? Well, private equity basically means a group of very rich people decided this arcade empire needed a fresh push.

Apollo ran things for a while, and honestly, the company did okay. But things got interesting again in 2014 when there was an IPO. Bambino's and the stock market crowd finally got their chance to own a piece of the pizza — figuratively speaking, of course.

Dave & Buster's Celebrates Grand Opening of new location

So at that point, Dave & Buster's was a public company. Shares were floating around, investors were happy, and life marched on. But, you know how corporate drama works — it's never that simple.

So… Who Owns It Now?

Alright, here's the moment you've been waiting for. In February 2024, Dave & Buster's went private again. This time, it was a joint bid between two heavy hitters — none other than Apollo Global Management and Olympus Strategic Opportunities.

Let that sink in for a second. Apollo came back, said "miss me?" and snatched the company up again. This merger created a new private entity, and suddenly Dave & Buster's stopped answering to the stock market.

The deal valued the whole thing at roughly $3.8 billion. Yeah, with a "B." That's enough to buy every single arcade machine in America approximately fifteen thousand times over.

Who Owns Dave & Buster’s? Ownership Structure 2025

Why Go Private Again?

Great question — and it's one analysts love to debate over fancy dinners. Going private means no more shareholder meetings, no quarterly earnings pressure, and way fewer people breathing down your neck. For a company like Dave & Buster's, that could mean more freedom to experiment.

Maybe they'll open new locations, expand internationally, or roll out some wild new game we've never seen before. Private ownership lets leaders play the long game without worrying about a dip in stock prices every Monday morning.

What About the Founders?

Let's give a little love where it's due. Both Dave Corriveau and Buster Corley passed away — Corriveau in 2015 and Corley in 2020. Their legacy lives on in literally every colorful hallway stuffed with claw machines and air hockey tables.

The founders don't own any stake anymore, not even a crumb. But you know what? Their names are on the sign, and that's arguably better than stock certificates in a drawer somewhere.

Who Owns Dave & Buster’s? Ownership Structure 2025

The Current Power Players

To recap the headliners: Apollo Global Management and Olympus Strategic Opportunities are the current co-owners. They share control like roommates who actually got along in college — mostly.

Apollo is a private equity giant with its fingers in everything from Reuters to real estate. Olympus Strategic Opportunities works closely alongside them, forming a pretty unbeatable tag team.

Together, they're steering the company into its next chapter. And honestly? Having experienced private equity leaders at the helm could be exactly what this arcade empire needs.

So there you have it — the scoops, the history, and the real answer to who owns Dave & Buster's now. Time to hit the games and pretend you didn't drop seventeen dollars on a single round of Whack-a-Mole, right?