HEB Central Market Sticker Shock (Houston, Dallas: apartment complex, condos, luxury)

[WilGar]

Originally Posted by Kthnry

I heard that was going to happen. Any idea what the timeline is?

Don't know, but have hopes for new addition.

[GEM-Texas]

Originally Posted by rynetwo

Have you been to the Blanco @ 1604 store? They have an entire camping build out to sell knock off of YETI accessories. So odd.

A friend of mine complains about it.

[elnina]

Interesting that Central Market has most beautiful stores in Dallas, Houston and Austin, but not San Antonio.
There are TWO stores in Austin and TWO in Dallas (SIX in the area). The newest store in Dallas is truly a state of the art.
And the Houston store with over 85,000 sqft is the largest.

[sapphire]

The clientele in Dallas is completely different. Also the Krogers, Tom Thumbs, Aldi's, Trader Joe's, Albertson's (and I think I'm forgetting a chain or two) are competitors there that SA HEB's don't really have to contend with. Yes we have TJ's but they're too spread out to really hurt HEB. Not sure about Houston's market.

[rynetwo]

Originally Posted by elnina

Interesting that Central Market has most beautiful stores in Dallas, Houston and Austin, but not San Antonio.
There are TWO stores in Austin and TWO in Dallas (SIX in the area). The newest store in Dallas is truly a state of the art.
And the Houston store with over 85,000 sqft is the largest.

The Stone Oak Market has a very modern look like the Montrose market. Alon is also unique. Demographics and population size are obvious answers to your query.

[Kthnry]

Originally Posted by elnina

Interesting that Central Market has most beautiful stores in Dallas, Houston and Austin, but not San Antonio.
There are TWO stores in Austin and TWO in Dallas (SIX in the area). The newest store in Dallas is truly a state of the art.
And the Houston store with over 85,000 sqft is the largest.

Bear in mind that the San Antonio store is 20 years old and is in a small building with limited room for expansion. I'm sure if they built a new one, it would be large and beautiful. But I'm not sure San Antonio can support two CMs.

Have you seen the new HEB downtown on South Flores? (The HEBita?) It's tiny and beautiful, with fantastic pizza.

[malcorub16]

Originally Posted by Kthnry

Bear in mind that the San Antonio store is 20 years old and is in a small building with limited room for expansion. I'm sure if they built a new one, it would be large and beautiful. But I'm not sure San Antonio can support two CMs.

Have you seen the new HEB downtown on South Flores? (The HEBita?) It's tiny and beautiful, with fantastic pizza.

I don't see why not, I could see one opening up on IH10W somewhere between 1604 and the Dominion. Do wealthy people from up there seriously drive all the way down to Alamo Heights for better variety or do they opt to instead go to the Whole Foods up there?

Usually, its the people within loop 410 that are inconvenienced with having to travel North... for example with Costco, all SA locations are along North 1604.

[rynetwo]

Originally Posted by malcorub16

I don't see why not, I could see one opening up on IH10W somewhere between 1604 and the Dominion. Do wealthy people from up there seriously drive all the way down to Alamo Heights for better variety or do they opt to instead go to the Whole Foods up there?

Usually, its the people within loop 410 that are inconvenienced with having to travel North... for example with Costco, all SA locations are along North 1604.

Based on income levels Schertz, Alamo Ranch, Leon Springs, and Stone Oak could all support CM. There was a press release that said they were not expanding the CM presence in San Antonio. Instead they were opting for the Plus model like Blanco which has many of the CM brand items.

[malcorub16]

^^ That makes sense. Regarding the "HEBita" on Flores downtown, a friend of mine works there and he says they don't sell cigarettes or ice strategically. They don't want the community to treat it as a convenience store and it helps keep out the riff-raff.

This is one thing I appreciate about HEB. Unlike WalMart or Target where every store is basically the same, each HEB store has its own layout and "personality." My mother likes to shop at the smaller elevated one on Nogalitos just Southwest of downtown where parking is under the store. Even though she doesn't live in that area, she prefers that HEB because it isn't as overwhelming as the bigger ones South of downtown and it actually feels like you are shopping at a Soriana or other supermarket in Mexico with the carts that go up the ramp. It used to feel more like a little Handy Andy before they demolished and rebuilt it a few years ago.

[elnina]

Originally Posted by Kthnry

Bear in mind that the San Antonio store is 20 years old and is in a small building with limited room for expansion. I'm sure if they built a new one, it would be large and beautiful. But I'm not sure San Antonio can support two CMs.

Have you seen the new HEB downtown on South Flores? (The HEBita?) It's tiny and beautiful, with fantastic pizza.

Just googled that location and indeed, it looks very nice. I might make the trip across the town to explore.

However, our Central Market is old, and small, and the selection of gourmet or imports is pretty mediocre.
Are we too poor or unimportant to have a nice store like the other big cities? Or perhaps the company thinks they don't need to invest their money because here is no competition to beat?
What are the upscale grocery stores in San Antonio? Do we have any?