With its eye on serving the West Austin Neighborhood, H-E-B is moving forward on plans for its H-E-B Lake Austin store, which is expected to open in summer 2022 (the store’s expected completion date has been updated due to minor construction delays).
The new H-E-B planned at 715 S. Exposition Blvd., which will have a two-story porch and overlook Lake Austin, will be more than a grocery store. With more than 110,000 square feet to better serve shoppers, H-E-B Lake Austin will showcase a world-class shopping experience that offers top-notch customer service and a wide variety of fresh foods and quality products at everyday low prices. Construction on H-E-B Lake Austin is set to begin in October 2019.
“We are so excited to begin serving this area of West Austin. Our Lake Austin Blvd. store will allow us to better support the needs of these neighborhoods by creating a convenient and comprehensive shopping experience for our customers, allowing them to shop where they live,” said Leslie Sweet, H-E-B Director of Public Affairs.
The multi-level store will also include new features and innovations to make it a community gathering place with a fun plaza. Along with a wide selection of organic foods, bulk items, and expansive Healthy Living department, there will be a coffee shop; full-service pharmacy with drive-thru; expanded beer and wine department; full-service meat market and seafood counter; and the company’s largest Dinner Tonight selection with Meal Simple offerings, fresh sushi and Cooking Connection demos.
Also in the plans are the inclusion of H-E-B Curbside and Home Delivery, innovative digital services that allow people to place orders online for pickup at the store or delivery to their homes, and a True Texas BBQ, H-E-B’s lauded barbecue restaurant that was recently named best barbecue chain in Texas by Texas Monthly and a top barbecue chain in the nation by Thrillist, which will include a full-bar and indoor and outdoor seating.
Structured underground parking will ensure the store has a welcoming, pedestrian-friendly perimeter with wide, tree-lined sidewalks to encourage walking and biking to the store as well as street-level landscape that softens the store’s impact on the neighborhood. With a second-level sales floor, customers will have access to three elevators, open stairway, and multiple escalators and cart escalators. The project also includes plans to make upgrades to both Exposition and 7th streets.
San Antonio-based Lake Flato Architects, an award-winning firm that also designed H-E-B Mueller Market, will introduce design elements that complement the neighborhood such as vine-covered walls; plenty of natural lighting; pitched roofs to relate the building’s scale to the surrounding neighborhood; and marrying materials and textures like limestone, wood, D’Hanis brick and metals. Design also will involve several environmental sustainability elements such as rooftop solar panels and energy-efficient refrigeration with condensation capture for landscape irrigation.
“The feedback and comments we received from this community were essential in developing the store’s design and features,” said Sweet. “As we continue to develop plans for this store, we look forward to hearing from our West Austin neighbors and becoming more involved with neighborhood charities and activities.”
To stay current with news and updates about this exciting project, people can visit www.heb.com/lakeaustin. Anyone with questions about the project, input or ideas to share can contact H-E-B at lakeaustin@heb.com.
