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- 🎮Monsters mash it with $250M raise, first release; Swiss balk at $17M increase for F-35s; This classic film's return is earning $2M a day.
🎮Monsters mash it with $250M raise, first release; Swiss balk at $17M increase for F-35s; This classic film's return is earning $2M a day.
Plus, more bite-size news about business in Tarrant County.


Phase 1 of the Fort Worth Convention Center is nearly complete. First look is the southeast entrance lobby, mezzanine terrace and coffee bar. (Image: Bennett Partners)
ProbablyMonsters has launched its first game, Storm Lancers, on Nintendo Switch. Founded in 2019, original investors included John Goff (Goff Capital), Jerry Jones and Luther King Capital Management. The company announced a Series A raise of $250 million during August.
Privately funded AP Ranch in Fort Worth is all about youth sports access. Located near Aledo Road and Chapin School Road, it is talking about a $30-million expansion.
Dallas' Pro Bowler Brandon Aubrey kicked a 64-yard field goal to tie the score as regulation time expired, then won it as the 10-minute overtime expired with a 46-yarder. With those kicks, Dallas took down the rival New York Giants, 40-37, to move to 1-1 on the season. The victory was the first in the head coaching career of Brian Schottenheimer.
The Pentagon said rising costs of raw materials and supply chain woes are to blame for a “significant price increase” ($17 million per jet) of Lot 18 F-35 fighter jets, including those under negotiation with Switzerland. The Swiss are threatening to cut a planned order of 36 F-35As. Lockheed Martin manufacturers the F-35.
CEO Jim Taiclet said Lockheed Martin is in "very active" talks with the Department of Defense/War on a "Ferrari" F-35 with sixth-generation technology. He first broached the subject weeks after Lockheed lost out to Boeing for the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance contract.
Lockheed Martin has been hit with a class action suit, listing misrepresentations and program losses.
CEO Ryan Cohen is turning Grapevine-based GameStop around, but does that make the stock a buy? The Motley Fool takes a look.
Daily digit: 3,821% = Monthly cumulative return that Pokémon cards have notched since 2004. The alternative asset’s returns have dwarfed the S&P 500’s 483% increase over the same period.
Swarovski, known for its jewelry, watches and lab-grown diamonds, will open a store in Southlake Town Square. Located at 1243 Main St. in the former Pauri & Casati space, the shop will undergo $250,000 in renovations starting in November, according to a permit filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Completion is expected by Jan. 13.
CEO Scott Kirby says United Airlines is driving American Airlines out of Chicago, He claims AA is bleeding $800 million a year there.
An appellate court ruled the Temporary Restraining Order against Powered By People and Robert Francis (Beto) O'Rourke be halted. The Court stated the Texas Attorney General's order "violates their rights to free speech under the Texas Constitution and the United States Constitution."
Last week, 817 Biz told you about former Colleyville Mayor Donna Arp's book to film. This week, it's former Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams with a book release — The Unity Blueprint: Aligning People & Purpose for Lifelong Success. It’s a guide about how to bring people together to accomplish great things in business, community projects and family.
Monday mansion: A historic east Dallas estate with deep ties to the Neiman Marcus family has hit the market for $10.5 million. The 6,448-square-foot home at 4 Nonesuch Road was built in 1940 by long-time Neiman Marcus executive Robert A. Ross on land once owned by Theo Marcus, brother of the retailer’s co-founders. The nearly 2.9 acres in the Lakewood neighborhood could be the largest land sale in the area since 1997, according to the Dallas Business Journal.
Grocery prices rose last month by about 0.6% — the biggest one-month jump since August 2022. Coffee is up 20.9% year over year. Steaks are up 16.6%. Fruits and vegetables overall were up 2.3% year over year. Apples rose 9.6%, and bananas increased 6.6%. Culprits are bad weather, shortage of farm workers and tariffs.
Notable and quotable: "Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity."
A startup has $41 million to build a vegetarian power plant in Louisianna designed to be fuel-flexible.
Believe it or not: You can soon order a helicopter on Uber. If you live in New York or southern Europe and have a lot of money, that is. The platform is partnering with Joby Aviation to start offering chopper rides on high-frequency routes — think between city centres and airports — as early as next year.
Significant stat: $2 million/day = What The Wizard of Oz is reportedly earning with screenings at the Las Vegas Sphere, and could top $1 billion in earnings during the film’s run through March 2026. Guests pay an average of $200/person.

“I’m trapped in an elevator — wait, it gets worse.”
Announcements:
TCU: Rewards head coaches Angie Ravaioli-Larkin (women's golf), Khadevis Robinson (track and field) and James Winchester (swimming and diving) with contract extensions.
Texas A&M University School of Law: Hires Tarynne Smith as Admissions and Operations Coordinator.
Fort Worth: Adds Beth Thurman to the Aviation Advisory Board.
Fort Worth: Selects Kristen Smith as Human Resources and Civil Service director.
JPMorgan Chase: Names Reina Abercrumbie Head of Strategy & Operations - Card Benefits.
SCORE: Selects SCORE Mentors Fort Worth as the Chapter of the Year for the Southwest District.
D-FW International Airport: Names Tracy Barker Vice President of Procurement and Materials. Welcomes back Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer to the Board of Directors.
Dallas Business Journal: Promotes Holden Wilen to Assistant Managing Editor.
White Rhino Coffee: Promotes Maddie Sanders to Marketing Director.
Texas State Bar: Honors Justice David Gunn and Kelly Hart attorney David Keltner with the Helen A. Cassidy Award from the appellate practice section.
U.S. News & World Report: Recognizes UNT's G. Brint Ryan College of Business programs for Supply Chain/Logistics and part-time MBA.
Americana Honors & Awards: Selects Old 97's for a Lifetime Achievement award.
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