Austin Now Home to Biggest H-E-B in Central Texas

Posted on December 5, 2024 | Updated on September 30, 2025

Kelsey Bradshaw

The front of an H-E-B grocery store in Austin on South Congress Avenue.

H-E-B’s made over South Congress store opened Wednesday. (H-E-B)

Austinites lined up at midnight on Wednesday to be among the first to greet a huge celebrity: A brand new, 145,000-square-foot H-E-B grocery store, the biggest in Central Texas.

H-E-B opened a new and improved store at the intersection of South Congress Avenue and Oltorf Street after tearing down the old grocery store building that had been there since 1957. It’s been a long two years of shopping at a cramped temporary store for customers in the area while the massive building was constructed.

The new store has 500 spots in three levels of parking, indoor and outdoor dining, escalators, elevators, sculptures and murals, and a barbecue restaurant. Roughly 600 people were trained to work at the new store, said Joey Uker, the store’s general manager.

H-E-B executives and employees, Austin City Council members, Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel, and community members welcomed the new store, which is nearly double the size of the previous one, with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday night.

Stephen Butt, president of Central Market and H-E-B, said the Austin store has been top of mind for the company for a decade and especially in the last two years with everyone asking, “What’s the latest on Austin 8?”

“It truly is a community hub,” said José Velásquez, Austin City Council member for District 3.

Here’s a peek inside the new store:

A heart sculpture reading "H-E-B" hangs over an escalator in a grocery store.

The main part of the grocery store is on the second level, which you can get to by stairs, escalator, or elevator. A heart sculpture that hangs near an escalator was made with pylons from the old store. (Kelsey Bradshaw/ City Cast Austin)

Buckets of flowers for sale sit in rows in a grocery store.

Located next to the produce on the second floor is a Bloom Bar, which is new to the store. (Kelsey Bradshaw/ City Cast Austin)

Men wearing cowboy hats perform in a grocery store. One is playing the guitar, one is playing the cello, and another is playing a violin-looking instrument.

Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel performed at the ribbon cutting and, in perfect Texas fashion, people two-stepped inside the H-E-B. (Kelsey Bradshaw/ City Cast Austin)