Toyota Music Factory woes, Mattress Firm, Mavs issues, Wade Park: Friday's D-FW business news

October 05,  2018 🔎 Prefer the online view? It's [here](. Follow us on Twitter [@DMNBiz](. (Associated Press) The Big Story Toy companies meet in Dallas, and then Geoffrey the Giraffe showed up Toy manufacturers and their retail buyers converged this week in Dallas at one of the industry's largest wholesale events for the first time without Toys R Us in attendance. At least until someone made an appearance as the toy superstore's longtime mascot, Geoffrey the Giraffe. A group of secured lenders that controls the failed retailer's intellectual property said in a bankruptcy court filing this week that they plan to bring back the brand. That's why they sent Geoffrey to the Fall Toy Preview, which ended Thursday at the Dallas Market Center. [Toymakers and reps who work for companies still owed big bucks from the Toys R Us bankruptcy weren't feeling sentimental]( and generally considered the Geoffrey gimmick to be in bad taste. Advertisement The Latest Mavs face questions about another employee's conduct [Four former female employees]( said team photographer Danny Bollinger has a history of propositioning female co-workers and making lewd comments in the workplace. Sun Country has $39 routes from DFW to Fla. beaches [The Minnesota-based airline]( began operating flights from DFW Airport to Fort Myers and Tampa, Fla., this week. Wade Park developer says he's close to restart [Work halted more than a year ago]( on the $2 billion construction site on the Dallas North Tollway Mattress Firm files for bankruptcy, closes stores [An initial group of 200 stores]( will close in the next few days, including some in Dallas-Fort Worth. Princeton is getting new mixed-use project [Called Princeton Crossroads](, the 297-acre project on U.S. Highway 380 will be anchored by a new city hall. Elsewhere in Texas - Travis County: [A new project]( calls for 12,000 homes to be added in eastern Travis County. (Austin American-Statesman) - Austin: [Tech firm Softvision]( is being sold to New Jersy-based Cognizant. (512Tech) - Houston: [JCPenney]( will hire 450 seasonal workers in Houston for the holidays. (Houston Chronicle) - Waco: The 10-year [Waco infrastructure program]( is showing signs of progress. (Waco Tribune) - Statewide: The completion of [a large natural gas pipeline from Texas to Mexico]( has been delayed until April 2019. (Houston Chronicle) Yard House and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at the Toyota Music Factory in Las Colinas. (Robert W. Hart/Special Contributor) spotlight Irving stiffs Toyota Music Factory partner on $44 million tab, and here's why IRVING — The City Council narrowly voted late Thursday to withhold a $44 million reimbursement for the developer of the Toyota Music Factory. Although the $180-million entertainment venue, which opened in late 2017, has brought the likes of Kirk Franklin, Reba McEntire and ZZ Top to Las Colinas, the council was unhappy with an unfinished storefront on the property. [The vote was 5-4.]( Stunned, developer Noah Lazes sat with his head in his hand in the front row for several minutes after the vote. "I've poured my heart and soul into the complex. I can't seem to get there," said Lazes, president of ARK Group. Follow DFW stocks: [See how top North Texas stocks performed](, as well as the oil and gas markets and major stock exchanges. DFW Top 100 Places to Work 2017: The Dallas Morning News and Workplace Dynamics partner each year to feature the [Top 100 workplaces](, based on ratings by the people who work at them.  Do you have feedback on this newsletter? Send your thoughts, questions, praise and corrections to our Business Editor Paul O'Donnell at [podonnell@dallasnews.com](mailto:podonnell@dallasnews.com?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback). STAY CONNECTED WITH US  [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( [LinkedIn]( [Reddit](  [OTHER NEWSLETTERS]( [SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS]( [Unsubscribe](  |  [Manage Preferences](  |  [Privacy Policy](  |  [Contact](  |  [Advertise]( You received this message because you signed up for this Dallas Morning News newsletter or it was forwarded to you. Copyright 2018 - [The Dallas Morning News]( | [1954 Commerce St., Dallas, TX 75201](#)