After more than 40 years of holiday magic, festive lights, and cherished community traditions, Campo Verde Mexican Bar & Grill will officially close its doors on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025.

According to a release, the ownership plans to re-imagine the space with a fresh concept in the first quarter of 2026.

Owners shared the bittersweet news, noting that while the love for Campo Verde remains strong, the nostalgia surrounding the concept has made it increasingly difficult to reimagine or evolve.

“We’ve come to realize that Campo Verde is more than a restaurant; it’s a memory, a feeling, a time capsule,” says Chef Moose. “But trying to recreate something so tied to the past comes with real challenges. We’ve decided to honor that magic by giving it a joyful, heartfelt sendoff.”

The restaurant was a mainstay and became an annual landmark in Arlington every Christmas holiday season with its 120,000 lights, 3,000 yards of colorful garland, 50 Santa Claus figures, 30 Christmas trees, and two model trains circling around the dining room.

Late restaurateur James “Smiley” Williams, who opened the spot in 1983, sold the restaurant to Thomas “Tommy” Stewart Jr. in 2022, according to Fort Worth Star-Telegram. With the new ownership also came no change in the Christmas decor but a reduced menu of Tex-Mex eats, which included staples such as enchiladas, fajitas, tacos, and frozen margaritas.

It closed in January 2025, but was revived in June when it was acquired by chef Mouhssine "Moose" Benhamacht and partner Liesl Best of Barbary West Hospitality. Benhamacht is acclaimed for his Arlington restaurant Cafe Americana and nominated for Chef of the Year in the 2025 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.

They opened the restaurant on June 6, with a more authentic Mexican menu, margaritas made with fresh ingredients, and a reinterpretation of Campo Verde’s festive decor. It bears mentioning that a goodly number of people were attached to the prior cheaper concept, even if the food was not as chef-driven.

But the closure will go out with a bang: One final opportunity for fans to experience the restaurant’s famously over-the-top holiday celebration. This will be the final season for guests to enjoy the concept – complete with lights, trains, and Tex-Mex favorites.

Final holiday season highlights will include:

• Thousands of twinkling Christmas lights throughout the restaurant
• The iconic toy train circling the dining room
• Appearances of Santa and fun Christmas activities
• Classic Tex-Mex dishes and holiday specials
• Photo opportunities and nostalgic moments for the whole family

As the release says, the Campo Verde team wants guests to enjoy this Dalworthington Gardens landmark and to savor every bite, every twinkle, and every memory through Christmas Eve.