Uploaded December 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
David Oliver “Dave” Corriveau, The Legend of Fun. Born September 15, 1951 in Madison Wisconsin. Growing up in North Little Rock Arkansas, Dave’s entrepreneurial skills came at an early age when he bought an old food truck and converted it into a snow cone truck. He drove around North Little Rock and Little Rock selling snow cones at parks and events. He saw the vison to scale even at that early age and bought three more truck fixing them up and hiring his friends to sell snow cones. In later years after working as a Blackjack dealer in Las Vegas, Dave came back to his hometown of Little Rock to open his first bar and arcade, Cash McCool’s Saloon and Game Parlor, a converted 7-Eleven in 1975. With the success of Cash McCool’s, Dave decided it was time to open another establishment but this time in downtown Little Rock’s historic train station.
After opening Slick Willy’s world of Entertainment in 1977 he developed what would be a life changing partnership when he met James “Buster” Corley. Buster was working for TGI Fridays at the time at a location just up the street from Slick Willy’s. Buster did what Buster does and welcomed him to the neighborhood by sending flower to the grand opening of Slick Willy’s. Dave, being so impressed by the classy gesture had to meet the man that reached out to welcome him. The friendship grew and when Buster decided to open his own restaurant he opened “Buster’s” next door to Slick Willy’s. The two met frequently and discussed how business was. As both businesses grew, they noticed and interesting trend, folk would play games and have a beer at Slick Willy’s then head over to Buster’s for a nice meal and vice-versa. The partnership began when they literally cut a window in-between Buster’s and Slick Willy’s to serve the patrons at Slicks.
As the success of combining food, bar and games grew the duo knew that there had to be stand-alone concept housing all three of the successful elements, thus the birth of what is now an internationally recognized brand; Dave and Buster’s. In 1982 the pair moved to Dallas, Texas and opened the first of many Dave and Buster’s. Their unique vison of combining Food and Fun has changed the industry. FEC’s are open across the nation and abroad, when one thinks of “Eatertainment” Dave and Buster’s is at the top of that list.
Dave’s attention to details and obsession with, “if you aren’t changing, you’re standing still” kept D&B on the front line of growth. His “Ideal Playing Conditions” were the bible for how a Dave and Buster’s was set up and maintained. Progressive thinking and ideas like a golf simulator set up in a country club atmosphere inside the Midway or a card swipe system to operate the games and eliminate coin jams are few examples of how D&B helped change the industry. The Legend of Fun has left us, but his legacy is seen in arcades, FEC’s and bowling centers worldwide.
David Oliver “Dave” Corriveau, The Legend of Fun. Born September 15, 1951 in Madison Wisconsin. Growing up in North Little Rock Arkansas, Dave’s entrepreneurial skills came at an early age when he bought an old food truck and converted it into a snow cone truck. He drove around North Little Rock and Little Rock selling snow cones at parks and events. He saw the vison to scale even at that early age and bought three more truck fixing them up and hiring his friends to sell snow cones. In later years after working as a Blackjack dealer in Las Vegas, Dave came back to his hometown of Little Rock to open his first bar and arcade, Cash McCool’s Saloon and Game Parlor, a converted 7-Eleven in 1975. With the success of Cash McCool’s, Dave decided it was time to open another establishment but this time in downtown Little Rock’s historic train station.
After opening Slick Willy’s world of Entertainment in 1977 he developed what would be a life changing partnership when he met James “Buster” Corley. Buster was working for TGI Fridays at the time at a location just up the street from Slick Willy’s. Buster did what Buster does and welcomed him to the neighborhood by sending flower to the grand opening of Slick Willy’s. Dave, being so impressed by the classy gesture had to meet the man that reached out to welcome him. The friendship grew and when Buster decided to open his own restaurant he opened “Buster’s” next door to Slick Willy’s. The two met frequently and discussed how business was. As both businesses grew, they noticed and interesting trend, folk would play games and have a beer at Slick Willy’s then head over to Buster’s for a nice meal and vice-versa. The partnership began when they literally cut a window in-between Buster’s and Slick Willy’s to serve the patrons at Slicks.
As the success of combining food, bar and games grew the duo knew that there had to be stand-alone concept housing all three of the successful elements, thus the birth of what is now an internationally recognized brand; Dave and Buster’s. In 1982 the pair moved to Dallas, Texas and opened the first of many Dave and Buster’s. Their unique vison of combining Food and Fun has changed the industry. FEC’s are open across the nation and abroad, when one thinks of “Eatertainment” Dave and Buster’s is at the top of that list.
Dave’s attention to details and obsession with, “if you aren’t changing, you’re standing still” kept D&B on the front line of growth. His “Ideal Playing Conditions” were the bible for how a Dave and Buster’s was set up and maintained. Progressive thinking and ideas like a golf simulator set up in a country club atmosphere inside the Midway or a card swipe system to operate the games and eliminate coin jams are few examples of how D&B helped change the industry. The Legend of Fun has left us, but his legacy is seen in arcades, FEC’s and bowling centers worldwide.
