H-E-B expansion into West Texas to continue with Lubbock store

San Antonio-based H-E-B last week unveiled plans to open its first store in Lubbock, Texas, next year, continuing the supermarket brand’s expansion into West Texas. Slated to open in late 2020, the more than 120,000-square-foot store will offer all the signature features and conveniences familiar to H-E-B shoppers, as well as many new and expanded product selections.

“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.”

Among the distinctive features of the planned store are a fuel station with car wash, a Texas Tech collegiate shop that will be fully stocked with licensed Texas Tech apparel and accessories, and a True Texas BBQ, H-E-B’s popular barbecue restaurant, which will include indoor and outdoor seating.

The rendering above illustrates H-E-B's planned first Lubbock, Texas, store complete with a Texas Backyard outdoors and garden department.

According to the company, H-E-B is tailoring the store’s design “to reflect the look, feel and traditions unique to Lubbock, emphasizing the hometown West Texas flair.” Designed in-house, several H-E-B Partners (employees) working on the project, including the lead manager of design, are Texas Tech University graduates. With construction set to begin early next year, the store will be built with environmental sustainability in mind, incorporating several energy-efficient inclusions such as CO2 refrigeration units and LED lighting.

Related:H-E-B eyes innovation with Eastside Tech Hub

Other store highlights will include an H-E-B Pharmacy with two-lane drive-thru service and dietitian office offering nutritional services; Meal Simple department with fresh, convenient chef-inspired meals prepared in-store; Cooking Connection with live demonstrations and samplings for easy recipes to make at home; Healthy Living department with bulk food items, sports nutrition products and supplements; and H-E-B Curbside, which allows customers to place orders online for pickup at the store. The San Antonio-based retailer also will work with Favor, 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.

In addition, the store will feature H-E-B’s Texas Backyard featuring plants, pottery, grills, and outdoor essentials as well as a Blooms floral department, offering online ordering and delivery service.

H-E-B currently has more than 400 stores and in Texas and Mexico and continues to be a dominant economic driver as it expands into the Lubbock market and opens more stores in West Texas, where it has eight H-E-B locations, and elsewhere in Texas.

Related:H-E-B has new vision for oldest store in Austin

“H-E-B is such an iconic Texas brand and their plan to open a store in Lubbock is exciting news. We’re here to give them a big West Texas welcome and look forward to the more than 430 jobs they will add to the local economy,” said Lubbock Mayor Dan Pope.

With a team of approximately 430 H-E-B Partners, Garrett Stauder will be the Top Store Leader and manage the Lubbock store’s operations. A Texas Tech University graduate and 10-year H-E-B Partner, Stauder has held various roles with the company and most recently managed an H-E-B store in Midland.

“Texas Tech was the only school I wanted to attend. Lubbock is what I refer to as home and it’s where I want to be,” he said. “I’m honored to have an opportunity to give back to a community that helped me grow during my time in college. I look forward to leading the store with a talented group of H-E-B Partners.  We are committed to building a store the community will be proud of.”