Ep. 10: From Bankrupt Auction to 18% Growth: How Dave Turned Around Grand Island Fun Center
- Clint Novak
- Jul 7
- 2 min read
In the world of Family Entertainment Centers (FECs), there is no "corporate playbook" for success—especially when you’re handed the keys to a bankrupt go-kart track and told to figure it out.
In Episode 10 of the FEC Masterminds Podcast, Clint and Erik sit down with Dave from Grand Island Fun Center to pull back the curtain on his 13-year journey from college student to solo owner-operator. Dave shares how he took an underperforming park, overcame a "dump" stigma, and achieved an impressive 18% year-over-year growth.
The "Outside Perspective" Advantage
Dave’s entry into the industry was anything but traditional. After buying a go-kart track out of bankruptcy in 2013, he leaned into his perspective as a former roller coaster enthusiast and amusement park guest. Without a background in corporate hospitality, Dave and his father used an "outside-in" approach to identify pain points that owners often become blind to over time.
Hard Decisions: When to Cut Losses
One of the most powerful takeaways from Dave’s story is his willingness to remove underperforming assets. To keep the park relevant and maintain the quality of the guest experience, he made the difficult, strategic decision to cut assets that were dragging down profitability and increasing liability:
Batting Cages: After realizing the maintenance and staffing costs outweighed the revenue, Dave made the call to shut them down.
Water Wars: By removing this attraction in 2020, he was able to pivot resources toward higher-impact experiences, resulting in a 90% reduction in injury reports across the park.
Rebranding for Success
Dave emphasized that even when you invest money, you still have to fight the history of the park. To overcome the local stigma of being a "dump," he implemented a rigorous rebranding campaign, including new logos, signage, and targeted marketing, ensuring the community knew this was a new era for Grand Island Fun Center.
Innovating Operations
Dave didn't just fix the aesthetics; he innovated on the business model. By transitioning to a "Bring Your Own Food" (BYOF) birthday party model, he was able to eliminate the pain points of unreliable pizza deliveries and boost party capacity by 30-40%. Additionally, he tapped into new revenue streams by using his snack bar as a ghost kitchen on DoorDash, focusing on high-margin dessert items like deep-fried Oreos and funnel cakes.
Listen to the Full Episode
Want to dive deeper into the tactics Dave used to achieve 18% growth and how he manages his seasonal staff retention? Tune in to hear the full conversation!
🎧 Watch or listen to Episode 10 of The FEC Masterminds Podcast right here:
Are you an FEC owner looking to level up? Drop us a line or apply to join our off-the-air Mastermind calls: https://www.novakamusementsolutions.com/
Comments