This was the second groundbreaking event in as many days in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, as a similar ceremony was held June 3 in Frisco. The 111,000-square-foot Plano store will be located at the southwest corner of Preston Road and Spring Creek Parkway. It is set to open in fall 2022.
The store will feature a full-service pharmacy with a drive-thru, an outdoor essentials department and a True Texas BBQ restaurant. Several other hallmarks of traditional H-E-B locations will be included at the Plano store, including a bakery, deli, fresh sushi and daily made tortillas. The store will offer curbside and home delivery.
H-E-B Director of Public Affairs Mabrie Jackson, a Plano native and former City Council member, said she was thrilled to finally announce an H-E-B opening in her hometown.
“I’ve known most if you in this audience for a long time, and every day you’d all ask me, ‘When is it coming?’” Jackson said. “Well today, we're really coming.”
A number of executives spoke at the ceremony about the company’s history, culture and vision moving forward.
Juan-Carlos Ruck, executive vice president of the H-E-B northwest food and drug division, said the groundbreaking event was his favorite “Plano day” so far.
"This easily takes the cake," he said. "Only day that might be slightly better is the day we get to open these doors.”
Ruck detailed many of the features H-E-B will be bringing to Plano. “My job today is to tell you enough to get excited and not tell you too much, so that you’re not surprised when you walk through the door,” he said.
Central Market, the gourmet grocery chain owned by H-E-B, opened its Plano store off Coit Road in 2002 and helped the company become familiar with the area, H-E-B officials said.
Plano Mayor John Muns, Police Chief Ed Drain and a host of officials attended the ceremony to celebrate the city's first H-E-B store. Muns said the store will bring 400 jobs to Plano, "amazing amenities" and a strong desire to give back to the community.
“This is absolutely fantastic, and I know all of us from the city of Plano could not be happier that you’re here,” Muns said. “When we met with H-E-B leadership, the first thing they asked, they wanted to know from us, what are the nonprofits that really need help?”
To back up that commitment, H-E-B awarded $10,000 each to five Plano community groups: Friday Nite Friends, Emily’s Place, North Texas Performing Arts, The Storehouse of Collin County and City House.
Originally founded in San Antonio, H-E-B has over 400 stores and more than 130,000 employees across Texas and Mexico. The company is one of the largest privately held companies in the state with over $30 billion in annual sales, according to the company. Visit www.heb.com for more information.
