The Denver-headquartered Gart Sports Co. has jumped into the tenant mix with a 50,000-sf commitment for an Oshman's store, Steven A. Lieberman, president of the Weitzman Group in Dallas, tells GlobeSt.com. Also newly signed is Famous Footwear, which took 10,000 sf for its 25th location in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Lieberman says developer, Hunt Properties Inc. of Dallas, intends to open doors in the fourth quarter. "That project," he stresses, "is going to clearly be the dominant power center. There's a lot of retail in Denton, but this is going to be to 'go-to' site."

Hunt has built a "critical mass" of national names for the development. Recently, Lieberman signed Bed, Bath & Beyond to 25,000 sf. The roster also includes Best Buy, a Kroger Signature store, Old Navy, World Market, TJ Maxx, Michaels, Pier 1 and Kohl's. And, there's still some room at the inn. Ben Hummel, vice president of development, and Kevin Caldwell, both with Hunt, are handling the developer's side of the negotiations.

Retailers Bed, Bath & Beyond and Oshman's are planning to boost their Texas store count this year. Oshman's signed four locations in 2002, but plans to make "a major move" this year, Lieberman says. Bed, Bath & Beyond will sign close to a dozen locations in the next nine months, he confides.