The colored lights flash off the arcade games, providing a backdrop at the spacious bar stocked with commercial beer and liquor. In front of the bar are tens of tables where food is served, with two, 200-inch projection screens hanging overhead, flanked by dozens of TV screens.
The colored lights flash off the arcade games, providing a backdrop at the spacious bar stocked with commercial beer and liquor. In front of the bar are tens of tables where food is served, with two, 200-inch projection screens hanging overhead, flanked by dozens of TV screens.
Dave and Buster’s, looking to be a popular young adult hangout in the area, just opened this week in McAllen, marking the entertainment venue’s 100th opening in North America, 12th in Texas the first in the Rio Grande Valley.
The roughly 30,000-square foot building sits right off Expressway 83 between S. 26th St. and Rooth Road near the McAllen Convention Center. It is open 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. General Manager Raul G. Gonzalez said they are going all in, which is reflected in the creation of 300 jobs and the abundance of games, and food and drink menus.
“We do food, drinks and fun,” he said. “What does fun look like to a guest?”
That will look like arcade games involving first-person shooters, racing games, pop-a-shots, air hockey, Angry Birds, Big Buck Hunter, ski ball, alien games and much more. That will also look like a full dining menu, bar and TVs showing all kinds of sports, Gonzalez said. They will likely be showing fights as well, he confirmed.
Each Dave and Buster’s location is area-specific. There are local teams branded on the wall — such as, in this location’s case, the Vaqueros. In one of the dining areas, there are photographs of Cine El Rey and the Convention Center.
“We serve the RGV,”Gonzalez said.
They’ve committed strongly to the area and the staff is optimistic in the venue’s success. And that starts with Gonzalez.
“If you’re gonna do it,” he said. “Do it big.”
