Shame on you HEB and USAA !! (Houston, Alamo: relocate, hotel, work)

[Coloratura]

Moving to SA from up North I would love to see some Harris Teeter's built along with Trader Joe's. It might push HEB to get some decent, fresh looking produce. Secondly, the competition would be good for the price of groceries around here. I was extremely shocked to hear there are only 3 grocery stores in SA - HEB, Wal-Mart, and Super Target.

[firstclassflyer]

There used to be more..but they left town.

[fierce_flawless]

I wish they'd build a 2 story HEB here where our current one is. It's WAY too small! I don't know what they were thinking.

I've always thought a multi-story HEB would be great downtown as well.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by fierce_flawless

I wish they'd build a 2 story HEB here where our current one is. It's WAY too small! I don't know what they were thinking.

I've always thought a multi-story HEB would be great downtown as well.

Yes. You'd think so, no? The HEB on S. Presa that's closing in a couple of weeks actually has a huge basement, the same size as the store, perfect for expansion to include a deli, butcher, bakery...to be part of the downtown scene.

There was a meeting a couple of weeks ago about it - many hotel reps upset with the closing, as well as locals. Of course, Councilwoman Cisneros could not be bothered to attend. Anyway, end result was HEB isn't at all interested in the downtown market. They're focusing on expanding in the 'burbs. Local leaders are trying to entice some smaller stores to come in, but if I understood correctly (someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong), HEB owns that building and won't be selling and certainly won't rent to another grocery store. And there's not really another location - at least not one that's financially feasible in the area, there are plenty of vacant buildings, but owners refusing to rent or sell.

I decided to try Hippo's today, since some have proclaimed it to be downtown's answer to grocery. VERY disappointed. It's basically chips, mustard, ketchup....they did have a decent wine selection and fairly decent beer selection, but almost no fruits/veg. Basically, they had what our local PikNik has, with nicer wine And I was really hoping to love this store.

[fierce_flawless]

Originally Posted by Chaka

Yes. You'd think so, no? The HEB on S. Presa that's closing in a couple of weeks actually has a huge basement, the same size as the store, perfect for expansion to include a deli, butcher, bakery...to be part of the downtown scene.

There was a meeting a couple of weeks ago about it - many hotel reps upset with the closing, as well as locals. Of course, Councilwoman Cisneros could not be bothered to attend. Anyway, end result was HEB isn't at all interested in the downtown market. They're focusing on expanding in the 'burbs. Local leaders are trying to entice some smaller stores to come in, but if I understood correctly (someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong), HEB owns that building and won't be selling and certainly won't rent to another grocery store. And there's not really another location - at least not one that's financially feasible in the area, there are plenty of vacant buildings, but owners refusing to rent or sell.

I decided to try Hippo's today, since some have proclaimed it to be downtown's answer to grocery. VERY disappointed. It's basically chips, mustard, ketchup....they did have a decent wine selection and fairly decent beer selection, but almost no fruits/veg. Basically, they had what our local PikNik has, with nicer wine And I was really hoping to love this store.

That stinks. It seems like it'd be an ideal opportunity for some businessperson to come along and provide downtown with a REAL grocery.

There are a couple old corner family groceries around here (all empty and abandoned). Always makes me a little sad to think back to a time when you would walk to a real "corner market" (not an overpriced convenience store) and get stuff for dinner.

The HEB over here used to be at a different location and so that's why I'm perplexed about their reasoning for BUILDING a new one fairly recently and making it so darn small! It's close though (3 or 4 blocks) so i can't complain about that.

I know the S. Presa one you're talking about. My SIL lives kinda over there, (Southcross and S. Presa on Stratford) and she calls it her "baby HEB" cuz it's little but she has no car so it's been the only one easily accessible for her.

It's been an issue for a lot of urban residents. I remember when we lived on Evergreen between St. Mary's and McCullough (Tobin Hill), and th Albertson's was sitting empty. There was a lot of effort by neighborhood residents and business owners (Candlelight, Demo's, etc) to get HEB to open up a store where the Albertson's had been because that was pretty much the only close grocery store for folks who lived there. They wouldn't though and now it's a church. So when we lived there we had to go to the Olmos Park HEB which wasn't convenient at all.

I always thought that a return to urban living was a good thing but what do I know.

Here's a pic of an old corner family grocery in my neighborhood. Still sitting empty! Wish I had the money to turn it back into a store. The "corner stores" around here are oddly few and far between and while they're in walking distance, it's not walking distance if you're in a hurry. Seems like when I lived in Tobin hill there was a store right on the next corner over.

[sapphire]

The margin on groceries is terrible. That's why nobody is rushing in there to "save the neighborhood". Like it or not, profit is not a dirty word, and in order to turn a profit at selling groceries, a small mom and pop grocer is going to have to price their items much higher than a chain store, and no one will want to pay.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by sapphire

The margin on groceries is terrible. That's why nobody is rushing in there to "save the neighborhood". Like it or not, profit is not a dirty word, and in order to turn a profit at selling groceries, a small mom and pop grocer is going to have to price their items much higher than a chain store, and no one will want to pay.

It's part of urban living. A lot of people are willing to pay a slightly higher price to have the convenience of a neighborhood grocery store.

The problem is that HEB has the market, and we can't get anyone else to come in, even the larger chains...if the city is serious about revitalizing downtown, it must make some efforts to attract a grocery store.

I'm ok with a mom and pop store, I don't need a football field-long aisle of cereals, but I do need a bit more than mustard and chips

Fierce - when I lived in New Haven, CT, there were 3 mom and pop grocery stores in the neighborhood (all walking distance). Yes, they were somewhat more expensive than the Stop N Shop, but they also sold in a niche market - excellent bakery, deli, butcher, cheeses, etc.

The S. Presa HEB is a lousy store, but has a ton of potential, esp in this area that's really beginning to go upscale. I was surprised so many downtown hotels were against the closing - they said they send many guests there, as it's easy to get to esp. w/o a car. However, though they're hosting these neighborhood meetings, HEB didn't announce the closing until it was a done deal. There are big signs all over S Presa saying "Save our HEB!" But it's a lost cause. Then there's our councilwoman....we really need to elect someone who can represent the people, but $$$ talks.

[firstclassflyer]

Originally Posted by Chaka

It's part of urban living. A lot of people are willing to pay a slightly higher price to have the convenience of a neighborhood grocery store.

Would the folks that are being taxed out of their homes be willing to pay slightly higher prices to have this convenience?

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by firstclassflyer

Would the folks that are being taxed out of their homes be willing to pay slightly higher prices to have this convenience?

Actually, probably, since they have to pay extra to get to the store that's 20 minutes away. They prefer to keep the HEB in the current location, though. They tend not to be folks who buy a lot of the extras that your HEB Plus offers, so a large store doesn't really matter.

Where I lived before, the local mom and pops served a community of very mixed income, and thrived.

However, the gentrification is happening anyway. There is a real market for local groceries. I'd be happy if the PikNik expanded.

But I did say A LOT, not ALL.

[firstclassflyer]

There has got to be a reason as to why a local grocer doesn't relocate or renovate to that area. If common folks such as yourself, can easily see that there is an issue and a market for it, than I'm quite sure that it's common knowledge amongst the interested parties in the area.
Something has to give, sooner or later. There is someone, or something, that doesn't want a local grocer there for some reason. One of you (or your neighbors) needs to "follow the money" in order to find it.