H-E-B reimagines iconic South Congress location

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) - H-E-B unveiled plans to make major changes to its longest-standing grocery store location in Austin Tuesday, taking it from one of the oldest stores in the city to one of the most innovative stores in the company, according to the grocery chain.

H-E-B opened the 25,000-square-foot store at 2400 S. Congress Avenue in 1957, and in 2022, the location will reopen at more than 100,000 square feet with murals and art installations by local artists, a wide selection of organic foods, prepared foods and bulk items, vibrant signage and natural light throughout the store and a vibe to reflect its location, according to a release.

The store will also feature a food hall with indoor and outdoor dining spaces and H-E-B's first-ever beer hall. Two levels of underground parking will allow the store to have wide, tree-lined sidewalks around the perimeter to encourage pedestrian and bicyclist traffic. 

Senior VP and general manager for the Central Texas Region Jeff Thomas said the grocery chain is "thrilled to share the news about our vision for this store with our neighbors."

"Our goal is to represent their needs and greatest wishes for their neighborhood grocery store, while keeping with the personality and vibrancy of the South Congress community,” Thomas said. “We still have a year of planning ahead of us before we begin construction, and we’re excited to use that time to listen to community members and gain their valuable feedback on how the new store can best serve them.” 

The store will also have H-E-B Curbside and Home Delivery services in addition to its wide variety of fresh foods and products and full-service pharmacy.

The store has undergone renovations in the past to increase its footprint to its current 69,000 square feet, but the plans to reimagine the store mark the first time this location will be completely rebuilt from the ground-up. 

The permitting and planning process is expected to run through until mid- to late-2020 with the store remaining open and fully operational during that time. Once construction begins, it’s anticipated to take two years to complete.

H-E-B says it is already putting plans in place to ensure a temporary store located at the adjacent Twin Oaks Shopping Center will be open to serve customers through construction.  

For more information, including how to contact H-E-B with questions about the planning process and updates on the new store, visit their website.