SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – Spokane Valley is seeing a boost in its economy with the opening of a new Dave & Buster’s arcade. Voter support for Proposition One has led to an increase in sales taxes and the city’s budget, with the extra funds earmarked for public safety activities.
The new Dave & Buster’s location opened its doors to enthusiastic community members eager to enjoy games, drinks, and entertainment. Regional operations director Brad Balderson shared the excitement.
The excitement extends beyond just the visitors. City officials are also celebrating the addition of this attraction. Mike Basinger, community and economic development director for city of Spokane Valley, expressed the significance of the opening, stating, “Getting a Dave and Busters is a really big deal for the city for sure.”
Brad Balderson emphasized the unique offering of the arcade, noting, “I mean there’s nothing like this around here so once the word continues to get out it’ll just keep growing and they have great experiences, and you can create memories here. Absolutely.”
For Spokane Valley, property and retail sales tax make up 81% of the city’s general fund. With Proposition One passing the primary election with nearly 60% approval, the new arcade has the potential to significantly impact the city’s economy. Basinger added, “Retail sales tax is really important for the city of Spokane Valley. We’re expecting that that should help our budget for sure.”
City leaders have noted that sales taxes in the area have been flattening and are on the verge of a decline. Proposition One aims to address this by increasing the city’s share from 0.86% of the 8.9% sales tax to 0.95% of a 9% sales tax.
Mike highlighted the importance of such attractions, saying, “I mean these retailers bring in a lot of people to your community, I mean, and they draw from way out past our region even, so we’re really excited to have a draw like this in the city.”
Before the opening, the nearest Dave & Buster’s was over 200 miles away, making this new location a significant draw for the area. Balderson encouraged everyone to “Just get in here and have some fun.”
