The Dallas-Fort Worth economy is ending 2025 in a much different manner than it began.

In a year that started with all eyes on Washington, D.C. and an incoming (and repeat) Trump Administration, North Texas carved its own path, reshaping the business landscape for years to come. Here are a few of the biggest stories of 2025:

January’s Department store disruption

Once a bellwether of the retail world, Plano-based JCPenney in January said that it was merging with Sparc Group to form Catalyst Brands, bringing in names such as Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand and Nautica.

February and March bring downtown disruption

Longtime Dallas-based luxury department store chain Neiman Marcus, which was acquired in 2024 by Saks Global, announced and then unannounced that it would close its iconic downtown department store. The move was a blow to downtown leaders and city officials in an era when the central business district is being displaced as the region’s business and cultural epicenter.

Texas is data center central

Texas became the hotbed for the data center boom this year, with dozens of companies announcing plans for these energy-sucking, AI-enabling facilities. Gasoline was thrown on an already sizzling market when OpenAi announced its Stargate initiative in February. This adds to major North Texas data center projects from players such as Meta, Google and Nvidia partners Aligned and Wistron.

DFW (Airport) keeps growing

After more than six years of discussions — delayed by new economic realities after the COVID-19 pandemic — DFW International Airport and American Airlines finalized a deal for a super-sized $4 billion Terminal F, the first new terminal since 2005. The upsized plans will include 31 new gates, exclusively occupied by Fort Worth-based American. The first phase should open in 2027.

‘How’s that working for ya,’ Dr. Phil?

Celebrity TV problem solver Phil McGraw saw his North Texas-based startup Merit Street Media crumble in 2025 and file for bankruptcy, starting a contentious, fireworks-filled and often baffling court battle with partners such as Professional Bull Riders and Trinity Broadcasting Network. It was more entertaining than the famous Dr. Phil “Cash Me Outside” episode.

D-FW bank bought for $10.9B

Dallas-based banking giant Comerica was purchased by Ohio’s Fifth Third Bancorp in a $10.9 billion deal. Fifth Third was essentially buying its way into the Texas market, alongside branches in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan and Texas.

Too many stories to count

These are just a few of the major storylines. There is also the drama about a Dallas ranch real estate agent killed by a buffalo during a hunt in South Africa, numerous real estate deals and residential expansions, arena searches by Dallas’ NBA and NHL teams that turned into a soap opera. A Muslim-centric development near Josephine gained national notoriety from politicians railing against the project.

National economic storylines such as international import tariffs and more aggressive national immigration enforcement efforts all reshaped the North Texas economy, too.

One thing was consistent. The Dallas-Fort Worth economy kept chugging along, adding some 42,600 jobs between the beginning of the year and the end of the third quarter. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Dallas-Fort Worth business datebook for the week of Dec. 28

Bowl games, economic reports and holiday closings.

Dallas-based Tricolor paid CEO $30 million in year before alleged fraud

The payments helped finance luxury homes in Dallas, Beverly Hills and Miami, the trustee said.

It’s difficult to look back over a year of meals and pick one bite that outdid the rest. It’s an especially difficult exercise if you eat and cook for a living.

We asked a handful of North Texas chefs and restaurateurs to do exactly that, though, and tell us what they ate this year that surpassed everything else.

Their answers are a de facto list of what and where to eat in the coming year.

Here are nine North Texas chefs and restaurateurs on their favorite bites in 2025:

Anastacia Quinones-Pittman, owner and director of culinary of Oh Hi Hospitality

“All the sides at a little place called Soulfood Street Bites (Addison). Their pork fried ribs are insanely delicious. I’m almost afraid to let people know about this place because they’re already so busy!”

Bonus bites: Hams Orchard peaches in Terrell. Grilled leeks at Pillar in Dallas.

Jay Jerrier, owner of Cane Rosso, Zoli’s Pizza and Thunderbird Pies

“I have my Hall of Fame places that I eat ALL THE TIME like Muchacho and Asian Mint, but the dish that haunts me is the plain cheese pie from Texapolitan Pizza. It’s the only place I’ll eat pizza from in D-FW that’s not my own. As good as anything in New York.”

Bonus bites: 30 Clove Rigatoni and the ricotta toast from Misti Pasta in Brooklyn. Heirloom tomato and cucumber panzanella from Met Him at a Bar in Los Angeles. Creme brulee doughnut from Bread Ahead in London.

Jennie Kelly and Brandon Moore, chefs and owners of Fond

“Focaccia and butter at Osteria il Muro in Denton. Our fave restaurant in the Metroplex. We always get their specials and the ragu, but as a fellow restaurant that makes their own focaccia, we really love theirs. It’s warm and fluffy and perfectly seasoned. Maybe it’s because we’re not working/cooking, but we always cherish it when we go!”

Bonus bites: Cast iron cheddar cornbread and leek butter from Odd Duck in Austin. Jamon buerre from Rudemouth in New York City. Tiramisu at I Cavellini in New York City.

Belal Kattan, chef and owner of pop-up concept Bazaar

“The gorgonzola ravioli at Via Triozzi was one of the best pastas I’ve ever had. I really enjoyed it and think about it often.”

Jessie Washington, chef and owner of Brunchaholics

“The Lobster jar from Enoteca Italia. It’s amazing. That bread is on another level.”

Uno Immanivong, chef and owner of Red Stix Asian Street Food

“The most memorable bite of food I had was a lobster brown-butter soup dumpling my friend and I made using leftover Thanksgiving lobster. We finished it with caviar. The idea came to life almost by accident. Our brown butter kept solidifying every 30 minutes, so we’d set the bowl by the fireplace to warm it back up.”

Tanner Agar, owner of Rye, Apothecary and Flamant

“Pokemon menu at Midnight Rambler. Sea urchin with trout roe at Shoyo. Mushrooms at Mirador. And if I’m allowed, the risotto tart with blue cheese ice cream at Rye.”

Olivia Genthe, chef and owner of Fount Board & Table and Little Blue Bistro

“I think about the pickles from Fond maybe three times a week. Crybaby sourdough is a new fave also. I ate an entire loaf after my Christmas party with just butter and vibes.”

Toby Archibald, chef and owner of Quarter Acre

“The lobster au poivre at Le Cou Cou in NYC. The oft-imitated dish is a signature of theirs and it was perfect! It appeals to all my French-trained sensibilities and then some.”

Bonus bite: Green curry ice cream made by chef Byron Gomez for the Drifter Dinner Series at Quarter Acre.