Posted online September 16, 2011 | 10:15 am

After years of vacancy, the first tenant has signed on with the retail and restaurant portion of downtown development College Station.Tim Roth, senior adviser of the development's leasing agent Sperry Van Ness/Rankin Co. LLC, confirmed that comedy club and restaurant Nine of Clubs owner Travis Dibben signed a lease about 45 days ago for 6,700 square feet at College Station, 420 W. College St.Roth said Sperry Van Ness/Rankin, which became the leasing agent for the development roughly four months ago, has other retail and entertainment prospectives that are "fairly close to signing leases."Previously, the $12 million College Station - owned by developer Scott Tillman - was listed by Ken Schwab of Wilhoit Properties.Construction on College Station began in August 2007 and finished about a year later. Its anchor and only tenant, Oregon-based Hollywood Theaters, opened College Station Stadium 14 in October 2008. The theater comprises roughly 40,000 square feet of the 135,000-square-foot development, according to Springfield Business Journal archives The retail and restaurant portion of the mixed-use development also houses College Station Car Park.Nine of Clubs, scheduled to open Dec. 2, claims it will bring nationally known comedians to the city, according to its Web site Its Facebook page lists a number of dates but does not name any comedians currently booked.Owner Dibben could not be reached for comment before deadline.The club also represents an opportunity for the Springfield franchise of delivery and carry-out restaurant Steak-Out, which will open the company's first expanded dine-in location inside Nine of Clubs, according to a news release.“There have been talks to do something like this in the past, but it was never the right opportunity,” said Aftan Romanczack, director of research and development for Georgia-based Steak-Out, in the release. “This opportunity comes at the right place and time, and with the right partner.”After talks with Dibben, Steak-Out Springfield's owner and operator James Medlock pitched the idea to the company's Chief Operating Officer Peter Petrosian, who gave the OK.“I’ve always loved the food, and I was impressed with Steak-Out’s ability to turn a profit even in a down market,” Dibben said in the release. “I knew that with James’ work ethic and the support of Steak-Out corporate, we would find success.”[[In-content Ad]]