Dave & Buster's Officially Coming To North Jersey

WAYNE, N.J. — Dave & Buster's is officially coming to New Jersey.

The Wayne Planning Board approved a resolution Monday that will bring the restaurant, arcade, and bar to a remodeled space in the Willowbrook Mall. The board approved the application in September.

The tw0-story portion of the mall's Sears building will be changed to accommodate Dave & Buster's, another restaurant, and other retailers, the application states. Dave & Buster's will be on the second floor. The new restaurant will be on the ground floor and the new retail space and Sears store will be located on first and second floors. More than 180 seats for the restaurant will be placed outside.

Mayor Chris Vergano originally announced in August that the restaurant was coming to Wayne. Dave & Buster’s had previously tried to enter the New Jersey market but a 1959 law that prohibited businesses from simultaneously holding a liquor license and a license to operate amusement games prevented the moving from happening.

Gov. Chris Christie signed a bill last year paving the way for the chain to come to New Jersey. The bill permits businesses to hold both permits as long as the facility is at least 20,000 square feet and offers at least 100 amusement games. Dave & Buster's easily meets those requirements.

Dave & Buster’s has more than 85 locations across the U.S. and Canada, including several in New York and Pennsylvania.

A Dave & Buster's representative and a representative from General Growth Properties, Willowbrook's owner and operator, could not be immediately reached for comment.

Jerome Vogel, the lawyer representing Dave & Buster's before the Planning Board, could not be reached for comment.

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Photo by Roy Niswanger — Used with permission via Creative Commons license