Downtown HEB? (San Antonio, Anton, Happy: to buy, to live, store)

[shoe01]

Downtown might get an H-E-B store - San Antonio Express-News

12k square feet isn't very big (the average may be 70k), but my guess is that it would offer things that aren't available right now in that area.

[LindaGrace]

That would be great! If you want people to live downtown, you need to give them the basics - like a grocery.

[RGJ]

couple months ago on another thread I posted a prediction that this would happen. That they probably aren't going to make much, if any, money, but that it's the civic thing to do.

[BenjaminNicholas]

From the 'it's about damned time' files... HEB's been bleeding this city with a monopolistic grocery business for years. Why in the world wouldn't they want to 'give back' a bit and put what appears to be a tiny grocery store Downtown. Goodwill, perhaps, but it's been EARNED by this city for so well-supporting them.



BN

[RGJ]

Originally Posted by BenjaminNicholas

From the 'it's about damned time' files... HEB's been bleeding this city with a monopolistic grocery business for years. Why in the world wouldn't they want to 'give back' a bit and put what appears to be a tiny grocery store Downtown. Goodwill, perhaps, but it's been EARNED by this city for so well-supporting them.



BN

HEB has given millions back to various charities and the community. And as far as monopolistic practices, it's a matter of survival in the grocery business when you're up against the big boys like Walmart, Target, Kroger and Albertsons. Don't get me wrong, there's some things I don't like about HEB. Such as their continued practice of pushing their Hill Country Fare brands at the expense of other items. But for the most part, they do a damn fine job. IMO

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by BenjaminNicholas

From the 'it's about damned time' files... HEB's been bleeding this city with a monopolistic grocery business for years. Why in the world wouldn't they want to 'give back' a bit and put what appears to be a tiny grocery store Downtown. Goodwill, perhaps, but it's been EARNED by this city for so well-supporting them.
BN

What is frustrating is they keep talking about not having enough residents downtown, and how this will be a loss for them so the city needs to help them out. They completely ignore the Southtown residents who would utilize such a store, esp if it's along the southern edge of Downtown, like Durango. That would easily make up the "required" numbers they feel it's necessary to make a store viable. And it doesn't need to be an HEB Plus or even a very large store, but they'd do well to survey local residents and focus on stocking those things the locals are likely to buy. If it's more like Hippo - deli, beer, chips, then we don't need that.

I'd love to see the city reach out to other grocers, but it's not going to happen. I just hope HEB follows through.

[RGJ]

I would suspect HEB has spent thousands of dollars trying to make this work. After all, their main office is downtown and Charles lives in King William. So don't you think if it made any business sense at all, they'd already be there? They are only doing this because I said so a month or so ago

[markintosh]

I'd never been to Hippo before and happened to stop in the other day. I was unimpresed.

Chaka, no disrespect, but I am positive that HEB has considered the Southtown residents in determining the feasibility of the store. The amount of research that goes into their decision of where and when to open a store is very comprehensive.

[xsa210tx]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh i would seriously pee my pants if this happens! I would kiss the ground, i would, i would, kiss a frog! Gee I don't know what i would do because i'd be so HAPPY!

I actually started a thread a couple of years back with a letter that I sent to Mayor Julian Castro about bringing a downtown HEB to San Antonio! I really do hope that it happens!

Here is my letter I emailed to the mayor in 2009 >>> My letter to Mayor Julian Castro on the lack of a grocery store downtown

[Pachuco2]

Excellent idea,..don"t know why the Handy Andy didn't make it,...it was close enough to downtown....