H-E-B just rolled out some interesting new things as part of its in-store customer experience. According to Marian Zboraj at Progressive Grocer, the chain just opened up a new brand new store in New Braunfels (just to the northeast of San Antonio) to replace an older store, and this H-E-B has some wonderful amenities.
The new store has the chain's first two-story True Texan BBQ, an instore barbeque restaurant for barbecue lovers. Note that the three variants of "BBQ" are used for SEO. LOL! Unfortunately, freshly cooked food isn't not suited for shipping. Sigh.
However, as a first for the grocery store chain, the New Braunfels location has a Home by H-E-B department. It houses (pun intended) housewares and furniture to help Texans do what they love to do, proclaim their love for the Lone Star State through their home goods and lifestyle products. Fortunately, such products are much more well suited for shipping.
Zboraj reports that H-E-B is starting with two different product lines:
The new Home by H-E-B department features two brands, Haven + Key and Texas Proud. Under the Haven + Key line, customers can find on-trend seasonal items from candles, mirrors and toss pillows, to kitchen textiles, rugs, throw blankets and accent furniture. The Texas Proud brand celebrates Texas style and features many similar items made by Texas-based artisans and businesses such as wood and antler art from Broken Antler in Converse, leather goods from Lucio Tailoring Co. in San Antonio, cowhide benches from Texas Bench Worx in Luling, and hand-poured candles from Rustic Swank in New Braunfels.
Buc-ee's also offers some products in the the home and lifestyle category, but it tends to brand them with our favorite beaver. There's certainly nothing wrong with that. Besides, what's wrong with adorning one's home with items from a gas station or grocery store as long as it is Buc-ee's or H-E-B? Nothing! Either way, it appears that H-E-B is going out of its way to feature Texan vendors and businesses in its stores, which is wonderful.
Keep an eye on our catalog as some of these products find their way up closer to our Dallas/Ft. Worth stores. If y'all see something that you just have to get, hit us up through our Contact page. No guarantees. However, if y'all's desired item is available near us, we'll see what we can do to ship it y'all's way.