LINCOLN, Neb. >> Former Nebraska football standout and current NFL star Ndamukong Suh plans to open a Nike store in the former Nebraska Bookstore space in downtown Lincoln.

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents on Friday approved a $1.25 million agreement with Suh’s company, TFL Development LLC, to buy 17,000 to 19,000 square feet of space — about half of the building, the Lincoln Journal Star reported.

In a request for proposals, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln had asked developers to propose a "nationally or globally visible retail store," specifically clothing or footwear, for the former bookstore space.

TFL, one of six companies started by Suh last year, beat out a proposal by Tetrad Property Group, which is run by another former Nebraska player, Zack Wiegert.

Suh is a former All-American defensive lineman for Nebraska. He played five NFL seasons with the Detroit Lions before joining the Miami Dolphins this year. He signed an endorsement contract with Nike shortly after his playing career at Nebraska ended in 2010.

Suh’s company will pay a $100,000 deposit to begin redevelopment of the space, plus a $1,000 monthly fee over 20 years.

The Nebraska Bookstore was one of Lincoln’s oldest retail establishments and a destination for fans in town for home Nebraska football games before it closed in June. The university bought the property from Neebo Inc. for $4.75 million.

The other half of the building will be redeveloped into academic space for UNL.