Patrons play skee ball during a preview party at a Dave & Buster's in the Tucson area. 

The restaurant, sports bar and video arcade chain Dave & Buster’s will open its first Tucson location inside a south-side shopping center in 2016, City Councilman Richard Fimbres confirms.

The chain has filed an application for a liquor license in the 1400 block of East Tucson Marketplace Boulevard, inside the Tucson Marketplace at the Bridges shopping center near Interstate 10 and South Kino Parkway.

Fimbres said the building will be just east of the 14-screen Cinemark Theatres, which is expected to open over the summer. The Dave & Buster’s building will be about 30,000 square feet and will employ about 50 people, Fimbres said.

The quickly developing shopping center also hosts a Starbucks in a parcel north of the Costco anchor. A Chinese buffet called Lin’s Grand Buffet are also expected to open.

“It’s the continued renaissance of the south side,” Fimbres said. “(The center is) about five minutes away from downtown, so that’s gonna be great. It’s a hop skip and a jump.”

The Marketplace at the Bridges is a 350-acre property being developed by three entities: Scottsdale-based Genesis Tucson South, New York-based Eastbourne Investments and Boise-based Retail West Properties.


Become a #ThisIsTucson member! Your contribution helps our team bring you stories that keep you connected to the community. Become a member today.

Reporter Joe Ferguson contributed to this report. Contact reporter Andi Berlin at aberlin@tucson.com. On Twitter: @andiberlin