Houston Area Grocery Stores (Austin, Katy: low income, income, prices)

[H'ton]

Anyone else seeing increased crowd/aggression at Houston area Grocery stores?

As in, they are so packed, that the second you grab an item and turn around to return to your cart you have to avoid running into someone?

Or when you are entering the main corridor, from am aisle, it feels like you are crossing into a busy intersection with no traffic lights!

I've seen this at both Inner-loop and Outer-loop grocery stores.

[gwarnecke]

I mostly shop at the Bunker Hill Costco and HEB. Both are routinely very busy, and have been for as long as I can remember. I think the HEB got slightly worse after HEB closed their Memorial & Dairy Ashford location, funneling more shoppers to Bunker Hill.

If you're especially bothered by crowds, I'd recommend patronizing your nearest Randalls. One theory I've heard regarding why the remaining non-closed Randalls are mostly in closer-in, wealthy areas is that they cater to customers who don't mind paying extra for a quieter, less-crowded shopping experience.

[airdrawndagger]

I use HEB curbside, understanding and accepting the downsides (slightly more expensive, can't pick produce, etc) in order to avoid the chaos that is described in the OP.

[DaveGl]

When I go to HEB, I try to go as early as possible in the morning. I only have to worry about getting rundown by the restockers.

[CA Guy in TX]

Depends on location. The low income areas generally have that.

[H'ton]

Originally Posted by CA Guy in TX

Depends on location. The low income areas generally have that.

I'm not seeing that.


I recently visited the HEB (West Alabama), HEB (Washington), HEB (Katy Freeway).

Those three are always incredibly busy and far from "low income areas"

[SanJac]

Originally Posted by H'ton

I'm not seeing that.


I recently visited the HEB (West Alabama), HEB (Washington), HEB (Katy Freeway).

Those three are always incredibly busy and far from "low income areas"

Curbside has your name written all over it. At Kroger it’s free with minimum $30 order.

[H'ton]

Originally Posted by SanJac

Curbside has your name written all over it. At Kroger it’s free with minimum $30 order.

No thanks...I still shop INSIDE this is just an observation

[Weatherguy]

In Cypress, I shop at the Kroger at Barker Cypress and Tuckerton. A very diverse crowd. The store is always busy, but I've never found it to be overwhelmingly busy. It's a great store, and prices are far below what I was paying at my Randalls in northwest Austin. I haven't been to any of the HEBs in Cypress.

[elnina]

Originally Posted by DaveGl

When I go to HEB, I try to go as early as possible in the morning. I only have to worry about getting rundown by the restockers.

And I go there late in the evening to check on products marked down. Stores are usually almost empty after 8PM.