With new environmentally friendly features, a casual in-store restaurant and a community meeting room, the H-E-B at Mueller that opened July 26 is a first-of-its-kind concept from the grocery retailer.

The facility in the Mueller development is a test store for the grocery chain to see if the new environmentally friendly features will work, H-E-B spokeswoman Leslie Sweet said. The H-E-B is intended to serve the 16 neighborhoods surrounding the grocery store.

H-E-B engaged in community meetings for more than two years before opening to get feedback on the store. Sweet said many of the new H-E-B features were added in response to what community members said was needed.

"H-E-B listened to the community throughout the design process so we could bring our customers the value and innovation they want in their shopping experience," Sweet said.