As the Northwest Houston population continues to grow with new development, the demand for adequate resources is rising as well.

H-E-B has plans for at least two stores near Jersey Village and Fairfield, respectively, and Kroger is building a new store in the master-planned community of Towne Lake.

"This Kroger store will have an architectural design similar to a Texas Hill Country look," said Fred Caldwell, CEO of Caldwell Companies, the developer of Towne Lake. "It will be a lot different than the traditional grocery store people see. It's a very unique look, and it will fit well within Towne Lake."

Construction is expected to begin on the 120,000-square-foot store—which will be located on the southwest corner of Barker Cypress and Tuckerton roads—by this fall. It will be located in the commons area of Towne Lake, the front portion of the community which will feature commercial development with retail, dining and medical space.

Kroger also began an expansion project earlier this year to increase the size of its store on Spring Cypress Road by 14,000 square feet, making the total size of the store about 76,000 sq. ft., public relations manager Kristal Howard said.

The proposed section will increase the store's selection of fresh and healthy food, quick meal solutions and wine and beer, Howard said. Seven of the 13 Kroger stores servicing Northwest Houston have been remodeled or are scheduled for a remodel this year.

"The expansion will enhance features and products in every department, along with improving the layout to better accommodate shoppers," she said. "[It] will allow the store to carry more Texan-grown fruits and vegetables, a larger selection of fresh meat and seafood, an increased variety of organic and natural foods, and more health and beauty items."

Along with the expansion, the Kroger now contains a Starbucks, new slate flooring and a new system for organizing and grouping products. The expansion is meant to better serve the increasing number of residents in the northwest Harris County area, which is one of the fastest growing communities in Houston, Howard said.

H-E-B is in the process of completing two new stores to serve northwest Harris County as well. A traditional H-E-B grocery store is being constructed at Jones and West roads to service local neighborhoods where Randall's was once located. Construction began June 1, and it may be completed by the fall, said Cyndy Garza-Roberts, H-E-B's director of public affairs.

"When we first came to this market in the '80s, we had a pantry store on Cypress North Houston," Garza-Roberts said. "There has been a void of an H-E-B in the community, so this certainly is an opportunity to serve the residents in this area."

At least four businesses in the Jones Road shopping center were forced to relocate because of the expansion at the H-E-B site. Little Caesars and B & J Bookkeeping and Taxes were able to stay in the vicinity, while Stay Safe Driving School and S & S Donuts moved to the opposite side of Jones Road.

On June 6, construction began on a 100,000-square-foot H-E-B grocery store in Fairfield to account for residential growth in the 3,200-acre master-planned community.

"The [Fairfield] store will be similar to the one off Hwy. 290 and Barker Cypress," Garza-Roberts said.

Currently, three H-E-B stores serve the Northwest Houston area and are located in Cypress, Vintage Park and Tomball. The Jersey Village and Fairfield projects are on track to be completed by the end of 2012, Garza-Roberts said.

New stores at a glance

Kroger at Hwy. 290 and Spring Cypress: The already-existing store is being remodeled to include an additional 14,000 square feet.

Kroger in Towne Lake: The store will be 120,000 square feet and designed after the Texas Hill Country. It will be part of the master-planned community's commons area.

H-E-B is building a 100,000-square-foot store at Mason Road and Hwy. 290 in Fairfield that will be complete by December.

A new H-E-B is under construction at the site of an old Randall's at Jones and West roads. The store will be about 60,000 square feet.