The five-year lease enables the off-price retailer to relocate from Balch Springs. This is the sole location outside Gilbert's homeport, where it operates a large-scale retail complex and collectors' museum near Gainesville.

Gilbert's is eyeing a May 1 move-in, Greg Fail, marketing director for the Dallas-based McNeff Cos. Inc., tells GlobeSt.com. The 67,771-sf center had been built in 1979 and renovated in 1994. The Gilbert's space has been vacant for about nine months as a result of a company downsizing by Bargain Thrift, according to Fail. The new signing means full occupancy for the center, which also includes an Eckerd's, Long John Silver's and Dollar General. Fail has represented the building owner, MK Fortune Management Inc. of Dallas, and the "mom and pop" retailer.

In another transaction, Republic Title of Texas will open a 3,200-sf branch office at 1350 E. Arapaho Rd. in Richardson's 20,000-sf Arapaho Creek Office Center. Republic is planning a June 1 move-in. The title company will close a Garland office in the move to Richardson's Telecom Corridor periphery. The office center is situated on the northwest corner of Arapaho and Plano roads.

McNeff owns the 77%-occupied center, which includes a 17,191-sf flex building owned by a third-party local entity. Fail has represented McNeff in the five-year lease signing while Richard Buford, an associate in Kennedy-Wilson's Dallas office, has acted on behalf of Republic Title.