After nearly three years of construction and renovations, grocer H-E-B's longest-standing Austin store reopened with a new look and new amenities on Dec. 4.

The backstory

Located on the corner of South Congress Avenue and Oltorf Street, the H-E-B opened in 1957 with 25,000 square feet and later expanded to 69,000 square feet. The store was demolished in February 2022 to begin reconstruction, and a temporary H-E-B opened up across the street at 2301 S. Congress Ave., Austin.

"H-E-B at Congress and Oltorf, Austin number eight as I've known it, has been an important location for H-E-B over many many years," said Stephen Butt, H-E-B president. "Please know this. The exciting new facility being unveiled today is the product of at least 10 years of planning, real estate negotiating, designing, building and extensive preparation in order to bring you this important day."
The South Congress H-E-B leadership team celebrated the store's reopening with a ribbon cutting on Dec. 3. (Sarah Hernandez/Community Impact)
The South Congress H-E-B leadership team celebrated the store's reopening with a ribbon cutting on Dec. 3. (Sarah Hernandez/Community Impact)
The specifics

The newly remodeled 145,000-square-foot, multi-level store includes a ground level with indoor and outdoor dining for the True Texas BBQ restaurant, a second level with products and three levels of parking with more than 600 spaces. Elevators and escalators in the store take shoppers up to the second level with a flower shop, produce, a bakery and tortilleria, meat and seafood markets, a pharmacy and more.


The store also features familiar and new amenities such as:
  • Curbside and home delivery services
  • An expanded beer and wine selection
  • Healthy living, pet and beauty departments
  • Cooking Connection with live demonstrations and samplings
  • H-E-B Meal Simple section with chef-inspired meals prepared in store
  • Sushiya sushi
The newly remodeled H-E-B features an expanded beer and wine selection. (Sarah Hernandez/Community Impact)
The newly remodeled H-E-B features an expanded beer and wine selection. (Sarah Hernandez/Community Impact)
The store also includes local artwork celebrating the store's longtime South Congress roots. The heart-shaped H-E-B sign hanging over the store's stairs and escalators was repurposed from the old store's outdoor pylon sign, said Cathy Harm, H-E-B regional vice president in Central Texas.

"It presents as a tribute to our incredible teams of partners who have served this community in the past, and now in the future," Harm said. "It is a reminder that our heart will always be with the people and the community that we serve right here at Congress and Oltorf."