The 130,000-sf Champions Forest Plaza has just signed Gap as atenant. The national retailer, which will bring along a Gap Kidsstore, will begin construction on 10,250 sf next month, shootingfor a January delivery. Meanwhile, a 5,500-sf Victoria's Secretwill come to market next month along with a 5,000-sf Ann Taylor.The retailers are joining a lineup that includes a 2,500-sf TheRight Start, an infant and toddlers' chain based in CA, that hasselected the upscale retail complex for its first TX store. Byyear's end, the chain will have four stores in Houston with plansafoot to open others in Austin, San Antonio and Dallas, says JimSmith Jr., a broker with Boyd Page/ChainLinks and son of ChampionsForest Plaza owner, Jim R. Smith & Co.

The 21-year-old Champions Forest Plaza has turned itself aroundfrom a traditional retail site to one that is attracting a high-endmix found only at three other sites in Houston, says the elderSmith. "But nobody in Houston has this collection plus a ContainerStore," he emphasizes. First, came a near $8 million makeover,excluding the $125 to $150 per sf that the complex's retailers areputting up to build out their stores, says Smith. His coup was thesigning of the Container Store, Houston's second, for 23,000 sf.One of the few hard goods suppliers in the center, the ContainerStore holds the anchor spot, opening in mid-June and marking itssecond location in Houston.

Champions Forest Plaza's makeover has made it a recipient ofPeat-Warwick's Legacy award while its reputation as a premiershopping location continues to build as the selective tenant mixgrows. There is 8,000 sf remaining at the complex, which abuts thetony Champions Forest subdivision. Smith the broker toldGlobeSt.com that he is seeking "other upscale nationals that wouldcomplement the other lineup."