SAN ANTONIO, TX - It has begun. We are already speaking about 2020, and 2019 is not even a glimmer in the rearview mirror. And it is a good thing, especially if you are H-E-B. The retailer is ramping up its expansion into West Texas with plans to open its first store in Lubbock next year, and with a whopping 120,000-square-foot space nonetheless.

“The wait for Lubbock residents is finally over. We’re extremely excited to announce that H-E-B is coming to the Hub City,” said Scott McClelland, President of H-E-B Food & Drug. “Our locations across West Texas continue to thrive, and the Lubbock store will allow us to answer the long-standing call for an H-E-B in this community.”

H-E-B now has more than 400 stores and 116,000 partners in Texas and Mexico, and continues to be a dominant economic driver as it expands into the Lubbock market and cuts the ribbon on more stores in West Texas.

“This store will allow us to better serve residents in Lubbock with H-E-B’s low prices, superior customer service, and fresh, top-quality products, all while creating jobs for our neighbors,” said Juan-Carlos Rück, H-E-B Senior Vice President of Operations. “We are proud to become part of the Lubbock community and look forward to many great years ahead, serving the area, both in our stores and through our community service."

All the bells and whistles will accompany this location, along with many new and expanded product selections including a True Texas BBQ, H-E-B’s coveted barbecue restaurant that was recently named best barbecue chain in Texas by Texas Monthly and a top barbecue chain in the nation by Thrillist, according to a press release. Other features to anticipate are:

• Meal Simple department with fresh, convenient chef-inspired meals prepared in store
• Seafood department with fresh fish and seafood, and in-house steamers for steamed seafood upon request and grab-and-go options
• Meat market with prime, natural, and organic meats; dry-aged beef; and fully cooked options
• Deli department with expanded cheese selection
• Cooking Connection with live demonstrations and samplings for easy recipes to make at home
• A bakery department featuring handmade artisan breads, cakes, and tortilla machine
• Blooms floral department, offering online ordering and delivery service

And you know that Texas always goes big, so you can expect H-E-B to follow its lead. The company has tailored the concept’s design to reflect the look, feel, and traditions unique to Lubbock, focusing on the well-known West Texas flair. The store will be built with environmental sustainability in mind, incorporating several energy efficient inclusions such as CO2 refrigeration units and LED lighting.

The store will also showcase H-E-B Curbside, a digital service where customers can place orders online for pickup at the store. The retailer is working with Favor to boot, an on-demand delivery service H-E-B acquired in 2018, as a convenient option for delivery, including one-hour delivery of beer and wine from H-E-B. With a game plan like this, it is no wonder that Texas is recognized for its highly competitive retail market. Stay tuned as the retail expansions heat up!

H-E-B