AUSTIN—The Society of St. Vincent de Paul – Diocesan Council of Austin (the Society), a nonprofit organization serving Central Texas since 1961, has purchased a vacant retail center at 901 West Braker Lane in north Austin, according to CBRE.

The nonprofit plans to convert a 25,000-square-foot building, which formerly housed a grocery store, into offices, thrift retail, a donation processing and storage warehouse, and a coffee shop and deli. Upon completion in spring 2016, the Society will relocate its existing thrift store from 1327 South Congress and officially open the Vincentian Family Center and Thrift Store.

"The original location is now in a highly gentrified area with upscale retail and many tourists," W. Gaines Bagby, first vice president, CBRE, told GlobeSt.com. "As we worked with the Society to determine its real estate requirements, we compared its services with demographics and transportation, ultimately deciding to target the North Austin area. The selected site outshined other possibilities because it is positioned in a vein of multiple Capital Metro bus lines and is in the immediate vicinity of two Title 1 elementary schools—McBee and Walnut Creek."