The Commons at Willowbrook is undergoing a $12 million renovation, and will soon be anchored by a new big box tenant.

The ground-breaking ceremony was held Feb. 15, with renovation on the retail center expected to be complete by the fourth quarter.

L&B Realty Advisors is asset manager for the property, located at FM 1960 and Highway 249, and CBRE Realty Inc. is in charge of leasing and managing the 457,000-square-foot retail shopping center. The company recently secured close to 150,000 square feet in new leases, including the yet to be announced anchor tenant, said Alex Makris, retail broker for CBRE.

CBRE has been trying to find the right fit for the last four or five years, he said. The company has completed deals with future tenants and is still in negotiation with several other big box stores.

"I think it will bring a great boost to the area," he said. "People will like the retailers that we are bringing in, some they know and will be familiar with and others they will be introduced to."

Construction has begun to tear down the former AMC Theatre, the future location of the new retailers, and the existing building, which will be used for the necessary parking lot. Many of the stores stationed in the old building relocated to other areas of the outdoor shopping center.

The following people were on hand for the ground-breaking ceremony, Robert Griffin, asset manager, L&B Realty Advisors; Steve Johnston, project manager for the redevelopment, L&B Realty Advisors; Alex Makris, retail broker, CBRE; Leslie Lopez, property manager, CBRE; Andre Lintzmeyer, assistant property manager, CBRE; Ray Duerer, architect for the redevelopment, CDA Architect; and Joe Owens, general contractor for the redevelopment, United Construction.