Oakland's new Dave & Buster's opens with a human crane, UFC fight game
Fans of bleary late nights operating arcade games and claw machines have a new outlet: Dave & Buster’s, which just debuted on the Oakland waterfront.
The national amusement chain held a grand opening for its latest combined restaurant, sports bar and arcade on Monday, May 4, at 55 Harrison St. in Jack London Square. The facility features a "Human Crane," where players are strapped into an apparatus and dunked into a prize pit, in effect becoming the hand in a claw machine. It also offers private game
suites for groups to rent.
The building that the Texas-based company moved into has long been vacant. At first, locals had hoped that a supermarket might take over the space, alleviating a dry spot in Oakland’s grocery desert. In fact, a food hall was planned for the site but reportedly got derailed due to the pandemic. In the end, Oakland got a D&B’s.
Not that everyone seems nonplussed. On the Oakland subreddit, an early visitor describes the place as "by far the biggest Dave and Buster's I've ever been to. The dining area, bar area and game area are huge. … l had so much fun and the vibes were really positive and exciting. I hope it succeeds and brings people to the area."
The latter is important, as businesses seem to leave Jack London Square rather often, including the recent departures of Dokkaebier, Seawolf and the Waterfront Hotel.
The Dave & Buster’s gobbles up more than 33,700 square feet and is open on weekends until 1 a.m., competing with the area’s other late-night amusement zone, Plank. The food-and-drinks menu includes what you’d expect, from wings and burgers to protein bowls and draft beers. Here are more of the facility’s features, according to a company release:
- a "massive 40-foot screen and more than 30 oversized HDTVs surrounding the bar" that give "immersive surrounding sound";
- an exclusive "UFC-themed fighting game" that features "real UFC fight footage, video instructions and intuitive gameplay" — for those who can’t make the UFC event at the White House this June;
- "Private Game Suites" to rent for groups that have TVs, food and drink, and games like "High Tech Darts" and "Social Shuffleboard";
- an interactive game based on the film "Top Gun: Maverick";
- a "Human Crane" game, where guests "strap in and become the claw and grab prizes below for the taking."
Details: Open 11 a.m.-midnight Mondays-Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Wednesdays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-1 a.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m.-midnight Sundays at 55 Harrison St., Oakland; daveandbusters.com
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This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 1:34 PM.