Let's start with the obvious: a national chain arcade-bar opening on prime waterfront real estate is not exactly the "economic revitalization" story Oakland boosters have been dreaming about. This is the same stretch of waterfront that was supposed to anchor a new era for the city — possibly even a Major League ballpark, before the A's drama turned the whole thing into a civic tragedy. As one Bay Area resident put it bluntly: "Imagine if there was a Major League ballpark at Howard Terminal."

Instead, we're getting skee-ball and overpriced cocktails. Progress!

To be fair, there's a libertarian case for this. A private business is investing real capital in a location that the market has priced, and they're betting they can make money there. No public subsidies (that we know of), no decade-long environmental review, no ballot measure required. Dave & Buster's saw an opportunity and moved on it faster than any government agency could have drafted a feasibility study. That counts for something.

But even the market-optimist in us has to raise an eyebrow. Another local noted that "Plank is right there" — referring to the existing waterfront entertainment venue that already covers much of the eat-drink-play territory D&B is chasing. Competition is healthy, sure, but stacking similar concepts on the same block isn't exactly a sign of creative economic development.

The bigger picture here is what Oakland's waterfront could be versus what it's becoming. When your prime real estate strategy is attracting the same chain you'd find in a suburban mall in Fresno, it's worth asking whether the city has a vision at all — or whether it's just grateful anyone's willing to sign a lease.

We genuinely hope it works. More businesses, more jobs, more tax revenue — all good things. But Oakland deserves a waterfront that punches above its weight, not one that settles for tokens and two-for-one wing nights.