H-E-B making record $200 million investment in South Austin stores next year
H-E-B making record $200 million investment in South Austin stores next year

UPDATE – May 19, 2020

As we adjust to the new realities of these changing times, H-E-B has had to adapt our business, and this includes making some changes to our Austin store opening and construction schedules.

After careful consideration, we decided we need to postpone the construction start of the South Congress H-E-B, a complex redesign and landmark project for H-E-B. In the coming months, we will take a fresh look at the design to ensure it meets evolving shopping patterns and customer expectations as a result of COVID-19, as well as achieves our own high standards. This is a special store, and we will move forward with construction when we are certain our plan offers the dynamic and innovative shopping experience our loyal and deserving South Congress customers will be proud of for decades to come.

While we currently do not have a timeline for the design and construction of the South Congress H-E-B, rest assured there are great things ahead. This is a postponement only. The existing South Congress H-E-B will remain open to serve our customers until we begin construction.  We remain deeply committed to bringing South Congress customers an iconic store that will offer an unique, world-class shopping experience.

Additionally, we are excited to announce the adjusted grand opening date for our new South Austin store at Slaughter Lane and IH-35 is June 10, 2020. We will close the nearby H-E-B at South 1st and William Cannon on June 5, 2020.

For more information about these projects, please see our article here: https://newsroom.heb.com/h-e-b-opens-newest-store-in-south-austin/

Original article below: 

H-E-B has plans for multiple projects in South Austin that will bring more than 1,000 new jobs to the area and total roughly $200 million in investment. To support the growth and increased density across South Austin, this substantial investment includes the opening of three new stores as well as a major remodel of an existing location.

“This level of investment has been years in the making, and we are incredibly excited to deliver fresh, new stores to this growing community,” said Jeff Thomas, H-E-B Senior Vice President and General Manager, Central Texas Region. “Next year, we will showcase an unprecedented investment in new stores across the greater Austin area, especially in South Austin where our customers will soon be receiving the best and most advanced shopping experience H-E-B has to offer. In addition to advancing innovative online services for time savings like H-E-B Curbside and Home Delivery, H-E-B continues to invest heavily in our in-store shopping experience to offer the best selection and services in both avenues.”

While some South Austin projects are still in planning stages, others are already under construction and set to open soon. The new 130,000-square-foot Slaughter Lane and I-35 H-E-B will include a full-service pharmacy with drive-thru, H-E-B Curbside and Home Delivery services, and a family-friendly True Texas BBQ restaurant with a drive-thru, a bar with beer and wine selections and outdoor seating with play area for kids. It’s scheduled to open on March 27, 2020.

A few miles up the road, the Riverside H-E-B plus! is undergoing a major remodel that will add more than 7,000 square feet to the footprint and increase the store’s ready-to-eat offerings with larger sushi and Meal Simple departments. To handle growing demand, the retailer increased the size of the store’s H-E-B Curbside to one of the largest in the company. The store’s renovations are set for completion in early 2020.

With extensive investment already underway across South Austin, H-E-B will close one of its smaller stores at South 1st and William Cannon Dr. Leased by H-E-B since 1994, the aging store needs significant utility and facility repairs and does not have many of the departments and services customers expect such as pharmacy, Meal Simple and H-E-B Curbside. At 31,000 square feet, the store, which is one of three on William Cannon Dr., is one mile from the I-35 and William Cannon H-E-B. The location is expected to close on April 2, 2020 after the new H-E-B opens at the northwest corner of I-35 and Slaughter Lane, which is roughly 2.5 miles away.

All South 1st and William Cannon H-E-B Partners will be offered positions and support to area stores. H-E-B will provide free Capital Metro bus passes to customers in need of transportation assistance.

In 2020, H-E-B also will see the start of work on two other world-class stores. Scheduled to start in January, the retailer will begin construction on a new store that will replace an existing location less than two miles away in the Oak Hill community. To be located on more than 30 acres H-E-B owns at the southeast corner of U.S. Highway 290 and FM 1826, the 90,000-square-foot store is expected to open in late 2021.

On South Congress, H-E-B will begin work next year to turn the city’s oldest location into one of the company’s most innovative stores. It will include new features to make it a community gathering place, with influences from across the world, like an eclectic food hall with indoor and outdoor dining spaces, and H-E-B’s first-ever beer garden. Two levels of 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. With a two-year construction schedule, the store is expected to open sometime in 2022.

As the project develops, H-E-B plans to open a temporary store across the street at the Twin Oaks Shopping Center on February 26. On March 22, H-E-B will close the existing store at 2400 S. Congress to move forward on work for the multi-story, 130,000-square-foot store. To support this transition, H-E-B will offer free H-E-B Curbside and Home Delivery service for customers in zip codes 78701 and 78704 in March and April.

“Part of their advantage is being so Texas-identified in a way that customers really relate to,” Jon Springer, executive editor of Winsight Grocery Business, an industry trade publication, told the Austin American-Statesman. “It’s one thing to be a local guy. But with H-E-B, it’s not just a slogan, it’s really the way they do business. For shoppers, that matters and that very much sets them apart.” (See full Statesman story here.)

Both new and renovated stores will offer world-class shopping experiences and customers will find all the signature features and conveniences they expect from H-E-B, with many new and expanded product selections. The design of these stores will incorporate the look and feel of the surrounding neighborhoods and will host many conservation elements such as rainwater harvesting, water retention ponds, environmentally-friendly refrigeration, and solar panel installation, as the retailer maintains large solar installations across 23 of its Austin-area stores with good success.

With over 50 stores in Austin and the surrounding area, H-E-B has several stores that have undergone or are undergoing renovation such as the East 7th Street H-E-B and there are plans for new locations such as H-E-B Lake Austin on Exposition and Lake Austin Blvds., which is expected to open in summer 2022 (the store’s expected completion date has been updated due to minor construction delays).

H-E-B Lake Austin
H-E-B East 7th

About H-E-B

H-E-B, with sales of more than $46 billion, operates over 455 stores in Texas and Mexico. Known for its innovation and community service, H-E-B celebrates its 120th anniversary this year. Recognized for its fresh food, quality products, convenient services, and a commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, H-E-B strives to provide the best customer experience and low prices. Based in San Antonio, H-E-B employs over 170,000 Partners in Texas and Mexico and serves millions of customers in more than 300 communities. For more information, visit heb.com and the H-E-B Newsroom.

About H-E-B

H-E-B, with sales of more than $46 billion, operates over 455 stores in Texas and Mexico. Known for its innovation and community service, H-E-B celebrates its 120th anniversary this year. Recognized for its fresh food, quality products, convenient services, and a commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, H-E-B strives to provide the best customer experience and low prices. Based in San Antonio, H-E-B employs over 170,000 Partners in Texas and Mexico and serves millions of customers in more than 300 communities. For more information, visit heb.com and the H-E-B Newsroom.

Media Gallery
Tozi Super Foods Tortillas and Tortilla Chips

Austin

Proudly Mexicana-founded and family-led, Tozi Superfoods blends heritage with health in every bite. The Mexican American food company is inspired by the Aztec goddess of health, Toci. Founded by two sisters and their mother, Tozi blends six generations of tradition from their family ranch in Jalisco, Mexico, with the power of indigenous superfoods like blue corn and amaranth – once a sacred staple of the Aztecs and a complete plant-based protein, rich in fiber, antioxidants, and cultural history. From tortillas to totopos, every product is clean, seed oil free, gluten free, nutrient-rich, and rooted in heritage – with wellness at the heart of it all. Tozi truly is “where heritage meets health”. 

Spicytude Spices

Dallas

Spicytude’s story begins where traditions are passed down and flavors come alive, the kitchen. Specifically, the kitchen of Arpi’s  grandmother. With a deep-rooted love of South Indian cooking and a craving for the flavors of her childhood, Arpi’s dream is to make flavorful Indian cooking easy and accessible for everyone with curated spice kits, step-by-step recipes, and video instructions. No guesswork, just bold flavor. Founded in the quiet days of 2020, Spicytude crafts small-batch, thoughtfully sourced spice blends that bring bold, authentic Indian flavors to home kitchens across the country.

Rigo’s Dairy
Latin-Style Cheese 

Bryan (Houston Region)

With four generations of cheesemaking behind them, Rigo’s Dairy is bringing traditional yet bold Venezuelan flavor to Texas tables. Based in Bryan, this family-run cheese plant  uses 100% cow’s milk and sticks to the same time-tested methods brought from their native Venezuela – no artificial flavors or shortcuts  – crafting authentic Latin-style cheeses that blend generations of tradition with the hard work and family values that define the Lone Star State. The result is a selection of cheeses that are fresh, rich, and full of flavor you can taste in every bite.

Oca Foods Peanut Butter

Austin (Central Texas Region)

After spending several years in the U.S., Renato Raposo found himself missing one of his favorite childhood snacks, Pacoca [pah-SOK-ah], a beloved Brazilian peanut treat. His connection with the snack deepened after the passing of his father in 2022 – it was a snack they loved and shared together. Unable to find a clean and simple version of this nostalgic treat, he created OCA Foods. By June 2024, he left a tech career to pursue OCA full-time, transforming this craving into a mission to share a wholesome, meaningful snack with the world.

My Drink Bomb Cocktail Mixers 

Houston

Founded by Houston entrepreneur Chloe Di Leo, My Drink Bomb is the original handcrafted cocktail bomb that turns any glass into a ready-to-sip celebration. Just drop one bomb into sparkling water and let dissolve, add alcohol (or not) no mixing required. Makes a great mocktail.  Proudly made in Texas and woman-owned, each drink bomb is crafted with natural ingredients. Low calorie, low sugar, fun, fast, and just a little fancy, My Drink Bomb makes cocktail hour pop – no bartender required

Long Phung Food Products
Vietnamese Meat Products

Houston

For more than 35 years and two generations, Long Phung has been serving up bold, delicious bites of Vietnam – one pork roll at a time. This Houston-based, family-owned brand is beloved for its ready-to-heat favorites made with quality ingredients and no artificial additives. Available in over 200 stores across North America, Long Phung makes it easy to bring a little taste of tradition and a lot of flavor to your table.

The Lavish Goat Bath Products

Sugarland (Houston Region)

The Lavish Goat crafts vibrant bath and body products designed to turn everyday routines into joyful rituals. What started in Candice and Sean Wheat’s kitchen during the pandemic has grown into a women-led, minority-owned manufacturer producing high-quality bath bombs and menthol-infused shower steamers. Known for their colorful designs and hidden prize surprises, The Lavish Goat combines artistry, aromatherapy, and community impact-all made in Texas with heart supporting the community through charitable efforts and internships for adults with Autism and Down Syndrome.

Klein Smokehaus Bacon 

Boerne (San Antonio Region)

Klein Smokehaus Oak Smoked Bacon is locally made and handcrafted on Boerne’s Hill Country Mile by native Texans the old-world way. This slow process and local oak creates bacon with a unique depth of aroma and flavor. Family owned and operated since 1950; Klein Smokehaus has deep roots in the Texas Hill Country. A nod to this German heritage and tradition, Klein’s specialty meat products are a true taste of history.

Jam-In Tools Crawfish Peeler

Dickinson (Houston Region)

JAM-IN Crawfish Tool, started as a simple idea to take the hassle out of crawfish boils. It has grown into a homegrown gadget that keeps the tradition of crawfish boils fun and accessible for all, with a product that’s tough, practical, and Texas through and through. From first timers to seasoned pros,   peeling crawfish can be quick, easy, and nail friendly. Proudly based in Dickinson, founder Joann Meguess works with local partners to build and package each tool right here in Texas.

Deli Spice Cooking Spices 

McAllen (Border Region)

Born from Sully Villareal’s dream to share real Mexican food with the world (no shortcuts) Deli Spices’ Birria Spice Mix is made withreal dried chiles and toasted spices. It’s a 3-step recipe: just add meat, water, and the mix — no cooking skills required. Everyblend is tested by families and perfected by a Mexican mom in Texas to help people cook authentic birria in under 30 minutes withrestaurant-level flavor and reviving the Villareal family’s memories with every bite.