James “Buster” Corley, co-founder of the popular Dave & Buster’s “entertainment” chain, died Monday. He was 72 years old.
Corley’s daughter confirmed his death at the age of 72.
“Buster Corley had a stroke four months ago that caused severe damage to the communication and personality part of his brain,” his daughter Kate Corley told WFAA-TV in a statement. “The family requests privacy during this time.”
Corley and his business partner David Corriveau initially ran independent businesses: Corley a restaurant and Corriveau an adult entertainment business. The two teamed up a few years later, the company says, and opened their first restaurant/lounge in Dallas in 1982.
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The pair established the order of names in the eponymous business with a coin. Dave won and Dave & Buster’s was born. The company now has more than 140 locations in the United States
A company representative said the chain would miss “his sage advice and easy laugh, the legacy he and Dave built.”
“Buster’s passion for hospitality, pursuit of excellence and deep care for his team members was like no other,” the rep told TMZ. “Our hearts go out to his family during this difficult time.”
The cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. His body was found in his home near White Rock Lake in Dallas, according to The Dallas Morning News.
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