James “Buster” Corley was the co-founder of the Dave & Buster’s chain of restaurants with arcades.
Dave & Buster’s
Corley started out in business as the owner of a bar called Buster’s in Little Rock, Arkansas, named after his own nickname since childhood. In 1982, he teamed up with David Corriveau (1951–2015), who owned a gaming business next door, to create Dave & Buster’s. They opened their first Dave & Buster’s in Dallas, a mash-up of their two previous businesses as a full-service restaurant with an extensive video arcade. Over the years, they expanded to more than 150 locations. Corley served as CEO of Dave & Buster’s at one point.
Notable quote
“[T]here could not be any better relief for stress that’s legal and public than Dave & Buster’s.” —from a 1996 interview for the Washington Post
Tributes to James “Buster” Corley
Full obituary: The Dallas Morning News