Officials with H-E-B honored 58 “founding partners,” or employees who helped open the store one decade ago. Officials with H-E-B honored 58 “founding partners,” or employees who helped open the store one decade ago.[/caption]

H-E-B Plus first opened its doors in Leander in February 2007, and on Friday the store kicked off its two-day event to celebrate spending 10 years in the community.

Officials with H-E-B honored 58 founding partners, or employees who helped open the store one decade ago. The employees who were being honored adorned blue shirts that read “Deep roots since 2007.”

Jeff Thomas, H-E-B senior vice president and general manager, thanked the employees for their years of work.

“What makes the store great is our partners,” he said.

On Friday, Mayor Pro Tem Ron Abruzzese presented an official proclamation for the store, and H-E-B representatives presented $2,500 in donations to the Bagdad Senior Center, the Leander Public Library, the Leander VFW Post and Hill Country Community Ministries.

On Saturday, the store is planning a Tex-Fest community appreciation event from noon-4 p.m., which will include prizes and giveaways, feed food sampling and performances.