CORPUS CHRISTI, TX-SSP Partners has taken over the Tex-Mart Food Store chain amid plans for an expansion. The beef up will come in south Texas. which is perceived as the strongest emerging market.

HOUSTON-The 1.53-million sf Willowbrook Mall has changed hands, falling into a joint venture portfolio of General Growth Properties and the New York State Common Retirement Fund. The mall has brought in $144.9 million for the pension fund seller.

HOUSTON-A new residential developer has secured title to a 5,000-sf warehouse that will serve as its corporate headquarters. The Memorial Park location is tailor-made for AMDB's focus on high-end projects, says the broker.

HOUSTON-It's official: Hilton will be managing Houston's Convention Center Hotel. A 15-year contract has been signed for the 1,200-room facility, which breaks ground in the summer. Delivery is set for late 2003.

HOUSTON-Village Green, Baybrook and First Colony shopping centers each have secured a new tenant. Cingular is opening its 74th Houston store while Proven Products is making plans for its third. Leslie's Pool Supplies is heading to Village Green.

HOUSTON-Setting an 800,000-pound truss is a feat to behold. The task has fallen to construction crews at the under-construction Reliant Stadium, a two million sf undertaking. To date, the stadium is 35% complete, with the truss being the largest piece of steel to be set.

HOUSTON-Stage Stores should emerge from a Chapter 11 in the summer, says a court-appointed disposition agent. Part of the restructuring calls for property dispositions, of which eight leases yesterday fetched $2.1 million.

HOUSTON-Bandwidth commodities trading and the potential of data storage commodity trading are pushing Houston into the forefront as a high-tech center. And, says one broker, the demand's sure to get even stronger.