HEB is looking to open a store in Dallas just to the west of White Rock Lake on the corner of Garland Rd and Gaston Ave. This is the space that was formerly "Far West". This will be their 1st store in the city of Dallas, with 3 other stores likely to open between 2013 and 2014. I have enjoyed grabbing beers in the "rural" areas of the Metroplex for quite awhile, hopefully this will be one that has a large craft selection.
I've got a friend that works supply chain for HEB. I'll find out the details on how big this store will be. They have several different levels of stores (size/quality/price) varying on the location and socioeconomic factors. Hopefully this one will be a higher level store.
That would be great. Apparently they could open more than 4 stores, maybe ask him on a number of stores too please?
I heard the 2 year plan was 30+ stores in the metroplex. If HEB Burleson gets Abyss then HEB's filling up the rest of DFW is a great thing.
There are a couple of HEB's in Austin that get a pretty decent selection of craft beer, even some special releases, and then there are some that are complete beer wastelands. Seems to depend on whether the store actually has a dedicated beer buyer or not. Unfortunately, the ones near me are all wastelands....
Only the highest level HEBs (I think internally they call them "platinum" stores) have a dedicated wine/beer guy. You want one of those otherwise you end up with a very middling and random selection. Selection at those stores is similar to Central Market.
The high level stores are either considered as "up" or "uber up." They have value, core, up, uber up, and plus style stores (depending on the socioeconomics). The store in Dallas will probably be up or uber up. I don't know that area of Dallas. Hancock in Austin is actually a core store.
WTF? What's considered an "uber up" store than? BTW: our HEB Plus stores suck as far as craft beer is concerned IMHO. HEB Escarpment and Hancock are the only stores I'd consider doing craft beer correctly under the HEB moniker in ATX.
Yes our plus stores suck. The HEB on north west military at Alon market in SATX is uber up. One will be opened in Stone Oak next year. I believe there are a few in Houston, too. The circle c HEB is probably an "up". I think a lot.of the beer is determined at the corporate level. Basically HEB tells the distrubutors how much space they have. The beer and wine manager don't have too much influence
I haven't heard anything about this. Are they upgrading the 281/Evans store (already exceptional) or building a new one altogether?
Dallas is a hard market to enter since there are so many grocery stores up there. I know that United Market has tried to make an entry, too. It'll be interesting to see if HEB succeeds.
I have no idea. I was at dinner with the HEB friend last night. I probably won't talk to him again for a few days, but when I do, I'll ask. From what they told me, the Stone Oak will be brand new and will be a top tier store.
Spoke with some HEB/CM corporate people at their Dallas 10 year anniversary, which was at the end of September last year. They said the strategy was to start on the edges of the city and make their way in gradually. Given the growth of CM in DFW, I think that the company has a pretty good handle on the market. I am always happy to have more options, let's just hope they make the beer/wine a priority.
HEB is my favorite local (Houston) grocery for craft beer. They do it right, and all of their new openings have large craft beer selections. Dallas is in for a treat.
