H-E-B to open rare, $2.7 million convenience store

H-E-B’s South Flores Market, which opened downtown last month, is the chain’s smallest store at 12,000 square feet. The convenience store on Bandera would be more than half that size at 7,416 square feet. H-E-B’s South Flores Market, which opened downtown last month, is the chain’s smallest store at 12,000 square feet. The convenience store on Bandera would be more than half that size at 7,416 square feet. Photo: John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News Photo: John Davenport /San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 35 Caption Close H-E-B to open rare, $2.7 million convenience store 1 / 35 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO - Watch out 7-Eleven.

The H-E-B Grocery Co., which operates about 370 grocery stores in Texas and Mexico, is making a run for the upscale convenience store market with a new $2.7 million mini-mart, gas station, car wash and Wendy’s fast food restaurant this year, according to San Antonio building permits and filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

The 7,416-square foot mini-mart will be more than half the size of one of H-E-B’s newest grocery stores, the 12,000 square-foot South Flores Market that opened downtown last month. While the company typically operates small kiosks with its gas stations, this project appears to be among its first-ever full-sized convenience store.

The total project is 10,296 square feet with 2,880 square feet of that set aside for the Wendy's. San Antonio-based H-E-B will place the new convenience store about 300 yards from one of H-E-B's Plus grocery stores, close to the intersection of Bandera Road and Loop 1604 on the Northwest Side of the city.

It will be located on a 21-acre property owned by the company that houses other retail chains, including a Fuddruckers, Conn’s and Academy Sports + Outdoors, according to city building permits and filings with the state licensing board.

The convenience store, which was first reported by Virtual Builders Exchange, will sell coffee, soda, beer, snacks and ice, among other items, according to a city sign permit application submitted by H-E-B. Construction is expected to be complete in March, according to the state filings.

An H-E-B spokesperson declined to comment on the store.

rwebner@express-news.net

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