Improvements in trading conditions in the US leisure and entertainment market could lead to new investment in additional locations, Kevin Bachus of Dave and Buster’s said.
Speaking ahead of next month’s IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando, Florida, Bachus, who serves as senior vice president of entertainment and games at the arcade and restaurant chain, said that the past 12 months have been “fantastic” for the company.
“2012 was one of our strongest years to date, with record-setting financials, a slew of fantastic new store openings and unprecedented guest response to our various promotions,” he told InterGame. “In fact, one of our biggest challenges in 2013 has been topping 2012.”
All this points to a market that is improving once again and that could see operators dedicate new resources to developing their offering.
“We believe that our biggest challenge is to provide a compelling alternative to all the many entertainment options available to consumers, whether indoors or outdoors,” Bachus continued. “As such, it’s incumbent upon us to find new ways to entertain them and to make sure that we are their first choice for frequent fun.
“That said, I do believe that as the economy continues to improve there is no question that companies are shifting back from belt-tightening towards growth.
“We are seeing a number of firms that had been rather quiet in the past several years start to plan new store openings and investigate moving into new markets.”
Read InterGame’s IAAPA Attractions Expo preview in full in the forthcoming November issue.
