Chili's is one of the hottest restaurants in America.

Why it matters: The Dallas-founded casual dining restaurant is booming at a time when many other major restaurant and fast food chains are struggling.

• Chili's reported a 31% increase in sales in the last quarter of 2024, driven by a nearly 20% increase in foot traffic.

Driving the news: The restaurant partnered with Lifetime to release a 15-minute romantic film this week ahead of National Margarita Day.

• The sappy Lifetime original is just the latest in the chain's social media marketing strategy.

The big picture: Chili's memes have taken over social media as the company aims marketing at younger generations. The goal is simple: become relevant again.

• The restaurant airs commercials during major sporting events and uses social media to highlight its deals, like the 3 for Me entree combo and the Triple Dipper appetizer platter.
• Case in point: You might still remember the baby back ribs jingle from the '90s.

What they're saying: The increasing foot traffic shows the restaurant's marketing schemes are working, Brinker International CEO Kevin Hochman told CNBC.

• "We don't think this is the end; we think this is just the beginning of the Chili's turnaround," Hochman said.

What they did: In addition to reintroducing Chili's to younger generations, the chain revamped recipes, trimmed menus and updated dining rooms, per CNN.

Zoom in: Chili's is definitely a Dallas restaurant. It first opened on Greenville Avenue in 1975.

• Restaurateur Norman Brinker, known for Jack in the Box and Bennigan's, bought Chili's in 1983.

Zoom out: Other casual dining chains haven't been as successful. Dallas-based TGI Friday's filed for bankruptcy in November.

• And there are no longer Red Lobster locations in Dallas after the final ones closed last year amid the chain's financial struggles.

Pronouncing fajitas

At least five children in Texas have died from flu-related illnesses this winter amid the nation's worst flu season in 15 years, according to the latest data from Texas Department of State Health Services.

The big picture: The virus is causing more severe complications and hitting young children especially hard.

Zoom in: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Influenza Surveillance Report ranked Texas flu activity as "very high" for the week ending Feb. 8.

• State data shows hospital flu positivity rates neared 39%, down from 45% the week before, but flu activity remains severe.

State of play: This flu activity is classified as a "high-severity" season, with estimates of at least 29 million cases nationwide, according to the latest CDC data.

• ​​Nearly every state is reporting high or very high flu activity.

Between the lines: Seasonal flu vaccination has been falling in recent years for some groups, including children.

Dallas was once a fashion destination because of Neiman Marcus.

Why it matters: Neiman Marcus, which opened in 1907, transformed the high fashion industry.

• It was the first American couture boutique to host weekly fashion shows and the first apparel store outside New York City to advertise in national magazines, per Texas Monthly.

Driving the news: The 111-year-old flagship Neiman Marcus in downtown Dallas will close next month.

• Saks Global will also close Neiman's three-story office in CityPlace after acquiring Neiman Marcus Group last year.

The intrigue: The company moved to its current location off Main and Ervay streets after a fire damaged the original store in 1913.

• French designer Coco Chanel attended when Neiman's converted the Dallas store into a Parisian paradise in 1957, the company's first annual Fortnight event.
• For 29 years, the company invited diplomats, artists and fashionistas to the annual soirées.

Zoom in: Stanley Marcus, the luxury retailer's longtime president, "believed in bringing the world to the city of Dallas [and] the city of Dallas to the world," former Neiman Marcus vice president Ken Downing told Curated Texan in 2023.

The bottom line: Walking through downtown won't be the same without window shopping Neiman's latest collection.

🥶 Yesterday's low of 12 degrees broke an 86-year-old record in North Texas. (WFAA)

⚡️ The Texas power grid saw record winter demand yesterday with enough electricity to spare. (San Antonio Express-News)

🏀 Anthony Davis will be out for at least two more weeks after injuring his groin during his first game for the Dallas Mavericks earlier this month. (NBC5)

⚖️ A federal judge ruled in favor of Southlake Carroll in a dispute with the federal government over Title IX. (Star-Telegram)

💬 Quote du jour:

"This district is in utter chaos. The community is in utter chaos. We are all hurting, and it's not her that caused it."

Celebrate National Margarita Day tomorrow with the president.

Driving the news: Chili's just launched its "Ride the Dente" campaign to promote its best-known margarita with a shortened name for NASCAR fans.

• There's even a song.

The intrigue: Despite Chili's reputation for margaritas, only about 10% of its sales in 2023 were from alcohol.

What to order: Presidente Margarita — reposado tequila, orange liqueur and brandy.

• We prefer the classic, but you can get blackberry, mango, strawberry and watermelon.

Where: Chili's Grill & Bar, with dozens of locations in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Cost: $9.50

Six-word review: Solid classic marg with extra pours.

📭 Know a drink we should try? Hit reply and tell us.