Ferruzzo tells GlobeSt.com that Restaurant Depot was looking for a site in the Interstate 10-Shepherd Road area. "The studies and research that they did showed that there are a lot of restaurants in that area," he explains, adding it also was important that the first location be close to the downtown, Midtown Heights and Galleria.

Ferruzzo says Restaurant Depot targets dark Target, Wal-Mart or Kmart stores with large parking lots. The executive team chose the 20th Street Kmart after a six-month search, he says. "It was the best choice from a location and amenities standpoint," he says, estimating the Kmart went dark about six months ago.

Restaurant Depot plans to open more stores in the Houston area in the next two years and has already committed to locations in Dallas and San Antonio, according to Ferruzzo. "Texas is an important market for them," he says.

Word on the street is a fitness center operator is considering the remaining 34,000 sf. The property's quoted rent isn't available, but similar properties are getting $7 per sf to $9 per sf, triple net, industry experts say.

Restaurant Depot plans to open more stores in the Houston area over the next 24 months, according to Ferruzzo. "Texas is an important market for them," he says, adding that the retailer has already committed to locations in Dallas and San Antonio.