Dave and Buster co-founder James “Buster” Coley is found dead with “self-inflicted gunshot wounds” at his Dallas home on his 72nd birthday – four months after suffering “severe damage” from a stroke
- James “Buster” Coley, 72, of Dallas, was found dead Monday on his birthday
- The Dallas Police Department found the businessman with “apparently self-inflicted gunshot wounds.” He was transported to the hospital, where he later died
- His daughter Kate, 34, said her father suffered a stroke four months ago.
- The stroke ’caused severe damage to the communication and personality parts of his brain’
- Coley founded Dave and Buster’s with David Corriveau, who died in 2015 at the age of 63
The Dave and Buster co-founder was found dead at his home on his 72nd birthday from “apparently self-inflicted gunshot wounds”.
Dallas resident James “Buster” Coley was found Monday at his home near White Rock Lake.
The Dallas Police Department found him with “apparently self-inflicted gunshot wounds” and he was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
His daughter Kate, 34, told the WFAA her father “suffered a stroke four months ago that severely damaged the communication and personality parts of his brain.”
Pete Thornfield, a spokesman for Dave and Buster’s, told in a statement on Tuesday that the co-founder is an “innovative and creative force”.
James “Buster” Coley, 72, of Dallas (right) was found Monday at his home near White Rock Lake with “apparently self-inflicted gunshot wounds.”
Coley co-founded Dave and Buster’s in 1982 with David Corriveau (pictured together) – who died in 2015 aged 63
“Buster’s passion for hospitality, his standards of excellence and the deep concern he had for his team members were unparalleled,” said Thornfield. “Our hearts are with his family at this difficult time and while we will miss his sage advice and lighthearted laugh, the legacy he and Dave have built lives on.”
Prior to his massive success with Dave and Buster’s, Coley opened a restaurant in Little Rock, Arkansas, in the late 1970s, while his would-be co-founder David Corriveau — who died in 2015 at the age of 63 — opened an entertainment venue a few doors down.
After noticing that many customers were hesitating between their two establishments, the couple decided to join forces and start an arcade restaurant called Dave and Buster’s in 1982. The order of the name was decided based on a coin toss, which Corriveau won.
They found a 40,000-square-foot warehouse a few miles off Restaurant Row and opened their first store.
Since then, the company has opened more than 150 locations and recently acquired Main Event for $835 million.
Coley’s daughter Kate, 34, (left) said her father suffered a stroke four months ago. The stroke caused “severe damage to the communication and personality parts of his brain” (pictured: Kate, James and his wife Leacy).
Pete Thornfield, a spokesman for Dave and Buster’s, told in a statement on Tuesday that the co-founder (pictured with his wife) is an “innovative and creative force”.