AUSTIN-Fired Up, parent firm of Johnny Carino's Country Italian restaurants, has found a northeastern US partner to open 35 eateries in five states. It's the latest in a yearlong drive that has resulted in 40 openings and 189 franchise signings.

FLOWER MOUND, TX-The commercial real estate world got a sneak preview at plans for Lakeside DFW, a Verizon SmartPark, that fronts Lake Grapevine. Six million sf of retail, office, restaurant and a hotel-conference center are in the works.

IRVING, TX-GE Capital Real Estate's managing director has moved over to FelCor Lodging Trust. Richard J. O'Brien is the hotel REIT's CFO and executive vice president, who will be instrumental in the planned $2.7-billion takeover of MeriStar Hospitality.

AUSTIN-With the availability of class-A office space, will tenants who had been forced into offices at industrial and retail properties actually move up the ladder? That's the question around town. Some real estate leaders say "no" and others say "yes.

AUSTIN-Inevitable Entertainment is in the process of moving from One Far West Plaza into 15,634 sf of sublease space at Echelon IV in the northwest submarket. The company triples its office space with the move while the building goes back to 100% occupancy.

AUSTIN-Sam's Club is redoing a vacant lumber supply site at South Town Square into a 133,144-sf warehouse club. It's the retailer's fourth location in Austin. The redo comes with a 25,521-sf addition to the existing 107,623-sf building on the city's west side.

DALLAS-Roy F. Weston Inc., a leading environmental remediation firm, has leased its second office in the Dallas metroplex. Two months ago, the international firm had signed for Pacific Center II and now it's off to Farmer's Branch.

DALLAS-A Dallas businessman has snagged a prime site in the heart of the Greenville Avenue entertainment and shopping district. It's a good investment and will be land banked until the time is right for development, says a broker involved in the deal.