Downtown News

Linchpin restaurant at AT&T Discovery District in downtown Dallas closes

The party is over at Jaxon.

Photo courtesy of JAXON Texas Kitchen & Beer Garden

In sad news for downtown Dallas, a restaurant in the AT&T Discovery District is closing: Jaxon Texas Kitchen & Beer Garden, which was a centerpiece for the dining/entertainment complex, is closing on July 29.

A spokesperson for Hospitality Allliance, which managed Jaxon as well as other restaurants at the district, confirmed that Jaxon would be leaving the district, but suggested that the restaurant might reopen in a different location.

"We were unable to come to an agreement with the landlord and are moving to a new location that we think we will be a better fit for us," the spokesperson said. "We'll have more information soon."

The restaurant posted on Facebook that "We have had a blast putting on a show in the district for the last 3+ years! We hope you have had as much fun as we have! This is not a goodbye, but a see ya later!!! Stay tuned for our new location, coming in the new year, 2024!"

Jaxon was a new concept that opened in March 2020, part of the AT&T Discovery District, launched by AT&T in 2018 to create a world-class workplace and help revitalize downtown Dallas.

The district opened with a high-profile assortment of restaurants and vendors that included Rise & Thyme, the cafe from celebrity chef Amanda Freitag, plus local names such as Monkey King Noodle Co, Baboushi, and Dunia & Espartaco Borga.

In 2022, AT&T executed a switch-up with some new concepts and replacements. Rise & Thyme closed in August 2022, and Hawthorn, a steakhouse from Arphelia Group, vacated the premises in March 2023.

Jaxon served modern/classic fare influenced by Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico, plus frozen margaritas and 34 beers on tap. It earned a nomination in 2021 for Best New Restaurant of the Year at CultureMap's annual Tastemaker Awards.

Am email sent out to Jaxon staffers stated that Hospitality Alliance was leaving effective July 31.

"We will no longer be involved with the Discovery District (including Jaxon) after the end of the month," the email said. "While this is disappointing, I believe it will be better for all of us in the long run."

A spokesperson from AT&T said there would be an announcement coming soon.

Jaxon invited fans to visit during the final week: "Come help us celebrate the good times, between now and Saturday! We will have some great specials, so come thirsty & hungry!"

downtown closings

Starbucks news

Starbucks to close Dallas office and cut jobs as part of restructuring

Photo courtesy of Starbucks

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Starbucks will close some U.S. offices, including one in Dallas, and will lay off 300 corporate employees and as part of its ongoing turnaround, the company said Friday, May 15.

No coffeehouse employees are affected, the company said. The cuts will impact employees in support functions like marketing, human resources and supply chain management. No international employees are affected for now, but Starbucks said it is also reviewing its corporate structure outside the U.S.

In addition to the Dallas office, at 12750 Merit Dr., Starbucks said it’s also closing underused offices in Atlanta, Chicago, and other cities. The Seattle-based company recently announced that it's opening a corporate office in Nashville, Tennessee, that will employ up to 2,000 people within five years.

Starbucks expects to the moves to result in $400 million in restructuring charges, including $120 million in employee separation benefits.

Starbucks has been trying to reduce costs and complexity under Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol, who joined the company in 2024. Last year, the company laid off 2,000 corporate employees and closed hundreds of stores in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Niccol said last month that the simplified structure is helping the company innovate more quickly. Starbucks is also investing in its remaining stores to improve customers' experience. It plans to redesign 1,000 U.S. stores this year to give them a cozier, more comfortable feel, and it's also hiring baristas to ensure faster service during busy times.

The efforts appear to be paying off. In the January-March period, Starbucks said its U.S. same-store sales, or sales at locations open at least a year, jumped 7%. Niccol called the quarter “the turn in our turnaround.”

“Our focus now is on sustaining our momentum and making our results repeatable and durable, all while delivering a healthy cost structure that supports profitable growth,” Niccol said during a conference call with investors. “It’s how we turn progress into consistent results.”

starbucks coffee business closure