Latest news with #Dave&Buster's
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Dave & Buster's (PLAY) Stock Is Falling Today
Shares of arcade company Dave & Buster's (NASDAQ:PLAY) fell 4.7% in the afternoon session after the company announced the appointment of former Yum Brands executive Tarun Lal as its new Chief Executive Officer. The entertainment and dining venue operator named Lal, who most recently served as President of KFC U.S., as its new CEO and a board member, effective July 14. The move follows the resignation of former CEO Chris Morris in December 2024. While the company's board expressed confidence that Lal's successful track record of growing brands would have an immediate impact, the initial market reaction was muted. The stock's dip suggests investors may be taking a wait-and-see approach as the new leader takes the helm during what has been a challenging period for the company. The stock market overreacts to news, and big price drops can present good opportunities to buy high-quality stocks. Is now the time to buy Dave & Buster's? Access our full analysis report here, it's free. Dave & Buster's shares are extremely volatile and have had 42 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today's move indicates the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business. Dave & Buster's is up 0.7% since the beginning of the year, but at $30.49 per share, it is still trading 27.4% below its 52-week high of $42.02 from November 2024. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of Dave & Buster's shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $2,222. Unless you've been living under a rock, it should be obvious by now that generative AI is going to have a huge impact on how large corporations do business. While Nvidia and AMD are trading close to all-time highs, we prefer a lesser-known (but still profitable) semiconductor stock benefiting from the rise of AI. Click here to access our free report on our favorite semiconductor growth story.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dave & Buster's appoints former KFC president Tarun Lal as CEO
You can find original article here Nrn. Subscribe to our free daily Nrn newsletter. Dave & Buster's announced Tuesday the appointment of former KFC U.S. president Tarun Lal as CEO and a member of the board of the eatertainment company, effective July 14. The Dallas-based company had been actively searching for a permanent CEO since Chris Morris stepped down as chief executive in December 2024. 'After a careful and comprehensive search, the Board is thrilled to announce Tarun as our next CEO,' Kevin Sheehan, chairman of the board and interim CEO, said in a statement. 'Tarun is a talented leader and seasoned operator with a highly successful track record of growing and improving businesses and brands in the U.S and around the world. We are confident he will have an immediate impact, grow our business and create substantial shareholder value.' Sheehan has been serving as interim chief executive since December and said at the ICR conference in January that when he left, Morris' leadership 'wasn't working from both sides.' Dave & Buster's has reported several quarter in a row of declining same-store sales that have been attributed to leadership missteps. Lal spent most of his career at Yum Brands, where he held multiple leadership positions over the course of 25 years, including COO of KFC and Pizza Hut India, global COO of KFC, and president of KFC U.S., where he has served since 2022. 'I am truly honored to be joining this incredibly talented team and to lead the company into its next chapter,' Lal said in a statement. 'Dave & Buster's and Main Event are iconic, highly differentiated brands with exceptionally large and loyal customer bases, outstanding unit level and new unit economics and huge potential for growth. I have been deeply impressed with what I have seen so far and sincerely look forward to working closely with our team and the board to deepen our connection with our guests and team members and drive immediate and long-term growth and value for all stakeholders.' Dave & Buster's owns and operates 236 venues across 43 states, Canada, and Puerto Joanna at Sign in to access your portfolio
Miami Herald
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘This is our Super Bowl': Watch parties abound for ‘Love Island USA' as season finale nears
LOS ANGELES - "Let it go!" one person screamed at a massive TV screen. "Get him out of my villa!" shouted another. "Oh, we're voting tonight!" declared another as they whipped their index finger in a circular motion as if to say, "We need to round up the troops and get ready for war." It's 8 p.m. at the Palm & the Pine and every single seat is taken, so some people have resorted to huddling outside to watch the action through a window. A small crew of bartenders are working double time to serve up wings, french fries and tropical-themed cocktails. On most nights at the family-owned Hollywood spot, dubbed "your girlfriend's favorite sports bar," patrons might come to watch tennis or basketball or soccer. But on this Tuesday evening, the guests were there to watch a different type of game. They came to the crowded bar to watch "Love Island USA" with 200 other fans who are just as invested in the reality dating show as they are. "The decibel levels crush any Super Bowl, World Series or anything we've shown there," said Colin Magalong, co-owner of the Palm & the Pine. "This is our Super Bowl," added Madeline Biebel, founder of the pop-up event series that screens reality TV shows called Reality Bar, which has been hosting free "Love Island USA" watch parties at the Palm & the Pine and other bars across L.A. While people have been gathering to watch high-profile television episodes in public spaces for years, the communal watch party has been having a resurgence, fueled in part by social media and the highly dissectible nature of shows like "The White Lotus," "Severance" and "Traitors." This summer, "Love Island USA," a spinoff of the U.K. reality dating show that airs six days a week, has sparked a pop culture craze and Angelenos are flocking to coffee shops, bars, restaurants, social clubs like Soho House and arcades like Dave & Buster's just to watch the show and kiki about it with others in person. Now in its seventh season, the premise of "Love Island USA" is fairly simple: Ten singles are plopped into a lavish villa in Fiji, where they must couple up with a member of the opposite sex or risk getting dumped from the island. Over the course of several weeks, contestants (who are referred to as "islanders") participate in extravagant challenges - many of which require them to wear revealing outfits and make out with one another - that are designed to stir up drama. At random, "bombshells" are brought into the mix to encourage the islanders to test their romantic connections. All the while, viewers at home can vote for their favorite islanders, sort of like "American Idol," with hopes that they will make it to the end and win the $100,000 prize. "It is so outlandish," said Lauren Sowa, who lectures on television and pop culture at Pepperdine. "Shows like 'The Bachelor' try to maintain a level of decorum and something like 'Love Island' throws that into their ocean and their pool and their foam parties with both hands." Between the spicy games, the contestants' disconnection from the world, their dorm room-style living conditions and the ultimate challenge of finding love, Sowa says, "The stakes couldn't be higher. The drama couldn't be more and therefore we could not be more entertained." The idea of bringing people together to watch "Love Island" and other reality TV shows came to Biebel in 2021 when L.A. was starting to reopen after the COVID pandemic. She wondered, "Why isn't there a bar or restaurant that shows 'The Bachelor'?" Biebel, 28, recalled. At first the bartenders at her local sports bar laughed at her request to turn on the show, but when a crowd of people joined her to watch it on the patio, she knew that she was onto something. She hosted the first Reality Bar event in 2023 at a restaurant on the rooftop of the Kimpton Hotel Wilshire and 40 people showed up to watch "Love Island USA" Season 5. She continued hosting watch parties for reality shows including "The Real Housewives" and "The Bachelor," one in which Joey Graziadei, the Bachelor himself, made a surprise appearance. But none of the events have been as popular as the parties for the current season of "Love Island USA." Thanks to a TikTok that got nearly 3 million views, the watch party at the Palm & the Pine went from having about 100 RSVPs to 1,500. On Sunday, fans cheered when Austin Shepard and Charlie Georgiou, who were booted from the island, made an appearance at the event. To keep up with the growing demand, Biebel added 10 other venues to watch the show at including the Nickel Mine in Sawtelle, Roosterfish in West Hollywood and the Happy Rabbit in Sherman Oaks. "People are just so hungry for connection and community especially post-COVID," said Biebel, adding that it brings people together who share a common interest. "Those moments where everyone is freaking out together are just magical." At the Tuesday night party, people started arriving as early as 5 p.m. to secure a seat inside the two-story bar. As pop and hip-hop music played loudly over a sound system, attendees sipped on "Love Island"-themed cocktails with clever names like the "I've Got a Text-ini" (a vodka martini with cranberry juice), "Bare Minimum" (an espresso martini), "Hot New Bombshell" (tequila, grapefruit and lime), "Aftersun Spritz" (Prosecco, mint, soda and lemon) and "I'm Open" (cucumber, vodka, lemon and soda). When the show promptly appeared on the bar's multiple TV screens at 8 p.m., a thunderous roar of cheers exploded. Throughout the dramatic episode - which involved the islanders reading anonymous letters about how their fellow cast mates truly felt about them - many patrons talked among themselves and shouted at the TV, but no one seemed bothered. The energy was high and the subtitles were on. Branson Bond, 27, of Hollywood and six of his friends went to the watch party for the first time after learning about it on social media. "It's one thing to see people's perception online, but it means so much more - whether it's music or film - to be around people who have a common interest," said Bond, who managed to find a booth in the upstairs area of the bar with his friends. "Especially with everything going on in the world, it's cool to kind of decompress with something silly every now and then." "We love to kiki, to party [and] we need a debrief like immediately after the show, so I needed to experience this," said Giselle Gonzalez, 27, of Hollywood. Reanna Davidson, 26, and her sister Maya Suarez usually rotate watching "Love Island USA" together at one of their homes, but they thought a watch party would be more fun. "I feel like we're obsessed with "Love Island" and we go crazy at home so we wanted to see what the environment was like here," Davidson said in between sips of a martini. "I like the drama, but also I like the love," she said. "Like last year, watching them all fall in love and really have relationships outside of it was so sweet." After attending one of Reality Bar's watch parties at a different venue, DeVante Waugh, 32, wanted to come back with a group of his work friends who all started watching the show recently. "I love the camaraderie here and everybody yelling," said Waugh, adding that he's still mad that Jeremiah was sent home during one of the show's most shocking moments. "It's fun. It's like watching a game. And then there's a lot of pretty women, not a lot of guys," he adds jokingly. While some attendees left the bar immediately after the episode was over, some stayed to do karaoke, strike a pose in the photo booth or to recap what happened on the show with their new friends. It's this community aspect that JP Stanley, 29, of Hollywood appreciates most about watch parties. "I think it's the sense of being a part of something," said Stanley as he sipped on a glass of Prosecco. He attended the event with a friend and said he hopes to see more watch parties even after the current season of "Love Island" wraps. "L.A. is really yearning for that community and I think this is something that really gives people of any age a place to connect, and it's such an easy common denominator." He added, "There's no prerequisite required. You don't have to know anything about me and I don't have to know anything about you. I can just be like, "So, Love Island" and you'll be like, "Right, Amaya!" --- 'LOVE ISLAND USA' Where to watch the season finale in L.A. on Sunday The "Love Island USA" Season 7 finale airs Sunday, July 13, at 6 p.m. PT on Peacock. These bars around L.A. will be hosting watch parties, most of them organized by Reality Bar. The Palm & the Pine (1624 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood) at 8 p.m. Nico's (3111 Glendale Blvd #2, Los Angeles at 8 p.m.) Roosterfish (8948 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood) at 8 p.m. The Nickel Mine (11363 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles) at 8 p.m. On the Thirty (14622 Ventura Blvd. #112, Sherman Oaks) at 8 p.m. Happy Rabbit (5248 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks) at 8 p.m. Untamed Spirits (3715 Evans St. W., Los Angeles) at 8 p.m. Britannia Pub (318 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica) at 8 p.m. Eastwood (611 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles) at 8 p.m. 33 Taps (at all 5 locations) at 8 p.m. --- Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY): It's Become A Little 'Fat,' Says Jim Cramer
We recently published a list of . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAY) stands against other stocks that Jim Cramer discusses. Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAY) is an American hospitality company that owns and operates dining venues. The shares are flat year-to-date as the firm struggles in an economy driven by inflation and consumer wariness. However, Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAY)'s stock surged by 17.7% in June. The share price rise was rather surprising as the firm's first-quarter earnings, which led to the surge, saw its revenue of $567.7 million beat FactSet estimates of $566.8 million by a hairline and its $0.76 earnings fall short of $1.01 in estimates. Investors were impressed by management commentary which indicated that its revenue, operating income, and cash flow would improve in the coming months. Here is what Cramer said about Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAY): 'Dave & Buster's actually had a nice little run here. It's become a little more fat. Dave & Buster and Urban Outfitters are the two outliers. People forgot about them, they let them forget, and that's just wrong.' A crowded performance hall with an audience enjoying a captivating show. Patient Capital Management mentioned Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAY) in its Q1 2025 investor letter. Here is what the firm said: 'Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAY) trended lower over the first quarter as the market continued to worry about revenue visibility. The company had a disappointing 2024, culminating in the abrupt departure of then-CEO Chris Morris. Founded in 1982 in Dallas, Texas, the company has expanded to over 200 venues in North America across two brands (Dave & Busters, and Main Event). The company is in the middle of a multi-year transformation focused on reinvigorating growth through store remodels, store expansions, and technology upgrades while enhancing margins through cost optimizations and synergies. Despite the efforts, the results haven't yet materialized in the numbers as the challenging macro environment continues to weigh on consumer expenditures. In the meantime, an activist, Hill Path Capital, has built up a position in the company and taken two board seats. With the Chairman of the Board stepping in as CEO, we are already starting to see improved results with the focus on a back-to-basics strategy delivering better than expected results in March and April. While the timing of business model inflection remains uncertain, what's clear is the stock is trading at an all-time low valuation of 6.8x forward earnings. As the company works to improve its operations, they've been actively returning cash to shareholders through buybacks, repurchasing 12% of shares outstanding over the last 12 months.' While we acknowledge the potential of PLAY as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dave & Buster's Announces Promotion of Les Lehner to Chief Development Officer
DALLAS, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc., (NASDAQ: PLAY), ("Dave & Buster's" or "the Company") today announced that it has promoted Les Lehner to the position of Chief Development Officer. Mr. Lehner most recently served as Chief Procurement Officer and Head of Main Event Development. In connection with this promotion, the Company announced that John Mulleady, current Chief Development Officer, will retire effective as of the close of business on October 23, 2025. Effective as of June 30, 2025, Mr. Mulleady will transition to an advisory role at the Company to ensure a smooth transition until the effective date of his retirement. The Company and Mr. Mulleady have further agreed that he will provide consulting services to the Company from the effective date of his retirement until January 31, 2026. 'I want to express my sincere gratitude to John for his nearly 15 years of dedicated service to Dave & Buster's. During his tenure, he achieved remarkable results, leading the successful construction of over 100 new stores and consistently demonstrating best-in-class development prowess,' said Kevin Sheehan, Board Chair and Interim Chief Executive Officer. 'While John will undoubtedly be missed when he steps away in 2026, we are fortunate to be transitioning leadership of our development efforts to Les – an exceptionally capable leader within our executive team. Les has been a versatile and highly effective contributor to our organization, overseeing procurement, cost optimization, and Main Event development. I have full confidence that he will excel as our new Chief Development Officer, bringing deep industry knowledge and a proven track record of development expertise to the role. Lastly, we have an existing, well developed pipeline of approximately 40 stores we expect to open over the next three years and look forward to Les leading the Company's ongoing growth in this area.' About Les Lehner Mr. Lehner served as Chief Procurement Officer and Head of Main Event Development since August 2022. Previously he was Executive Vice President, Chief Development and Procurement Officer at Main Event Entertainment from 2018 through July 2022, and Senior Vice President, Chief Development and Procurement Officer at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. from 2015 through 2018. Prior to that he was with CEC Entertainment from 2000 through 2015 in various roles including Senior Vice President, Development and Procurement. About Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Coppell, Texas, Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc., is the owner and operator of 236 venues in North America that offer premier entertainment and dining experiences to guests through two distinct brands: Dave & Buster's and Main Event. The Company has 175 Dave & Buster's branded stores in 43 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada and offers guests the opportunity to "Eat Drink Play and Watch," all in one location. Each store offers a full menu of entrées and appetizers, a complete selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and an extensive assortment of entertainment attractions centered around playing games and watching live sports and other televised events. The Company also operates 61 Main Event branded stores in 22 states across the country, and offers state-of-the-art bowling, laser tag, hundreds of arcade games and virtual reality, making it the perfect place for families to connect and make memories. For more information about each brand, visit and For Investor Relations Inquiries: Cory Hatton, Head of Entertainment Finance, Investor Relations & TreasurerDave & Buster's Entertainment, in to access your portfolio
