h-e-b in the third ward

Massive new H-E-B in MacGregor marks milestone for Houston's Third Ward

H-E-B's newest location has opened in the Third Ward. Dubbed the MacGregor Market, the 90,000-square-foot store (6055 South Freeway) is the first full-service grocery store to open in the area in 20 years, according to CultureMap news partner ABC13.

“This H-E-B store has been in the making for some time now, and we are thrilled to put our roots down on this historic corner of Houston,” said Winell Herron, H-E-B’s Group VP for Public Affairs, Diversity and Environmental Affairs, in a statement. “Thanks to the diligent work of the City of Houston, the Houston Housing Finance Corporation (HHFC), community supporters and our H-E-B team, we are honored to be an even bigger and better part of this neighborhood.”

The store's opening completes a five-year process that included the city of Houston using $13.9 million in federal grants to purchase the property from Houston Community College, which it then leased to H-E-B for the store. Expected to be a boon to both its immediate neighborhood as well as rapidly growing adjacent neighborhoods like the Medical Center and the Museum District, Mayor Sylvester Turner joined H-E-B president Scott McClelland at Tuesday's ribbon cutting.

Shopper will find the store loaded with the same style of amenities that H-E-B has included at its new stores in Bellaire, The Heights, and on Washington Avenue. MacGregor Market offers 50,000 items, including the largest selection of the store's Meal Simple heat and eat options, 1,500 organic, and a produce selection that includes freshly-squeezed juices. Other amenities include a pharmacy with a drive-thru, a cooking demonstration area, a bakery with a tortillería, and an extensive selection of beer and wine.

Alternatively, shoppers can skip the in-store experience in favor of picking them up curbside or having them delivered by Favor, which is also owned by H-E-B.

Looking ahead, H-E-B has plans for additional stores in the heart of Houston. A Meyerland store to replace one that flooded during Hurricane Harvey is under construction on Beechnut near 610, and the company has also announced it will open a new location in Upper Kirby at the intersection of West Alabama and Kirby.

Fresh produce galore.

Photo by Dave Rossman

Fresh produce galore.

news-you-can-eat openings

With or Without Whiz

Houston burger mastermind fires up new pop-up devoted to Philly cheesesteaks

Photo by Michael Ma

Abbas Dhanani is serving up cheesesteaks at his new pop-up.

Abbas Dhanani is at it again. The food influencer-turned-restaurateur behind the CultureMap Tastemaker Award-winning smash burger concept Burger Bodega is firing up a new pop-up concept devoted to another iconic sandwich.

Called Bas’s Cheesesteaks, the new concept will Dhanani’s take on the classic Philly cheesesteak, made with sliced ribeye and white cheese on a seeded hoagie roll — onions and a spicy sauce are optional. A second version swaps the white cheese for Cheez Whiz. Like Burger Bodega, Dhanani is using halal beef for his cheesesteaks.

Bas's Cheesesteaks cheesesteak sandwich The cheesesteak is served on a seeded hoagie roll.Photo by Michael Ma

“We have experimented with cheesesteaks as specials on the menu at Burger Bodega and received amazing feedback,” Dhanani said in a statement. “However, the cheesesteaks at Bas’s are the most refined versions we have done so far. I am excited to bring authentic Philly cheesesteaks to Houston as a new flavor experience while continuing to build on the energy and community we have created at Burger Bodega. This is a huge passion project for me, and I plan to take it step by step, just like Burger Bodega."

As Dhanani notes, he introduced Burger Bodega with a series of pop-ups throughout Houston. To answer the obvious question, of course a restaurant could be in the cards for Bas’s, too.

“I think thats the goal of any new pop-up concept,” Dhanani tells CultureMap. “Like Burger Bodega, we want to take it one step at a time and see where it goes.”

Bas’s Cheesesteaks will have its first pop-up on Monday, June 30 at Burger Bodega’s location (4520 Washington Avenue). In addition to the two cheesesteaks, diners can get fries. Future pop-ups will be announced via Instagram.

As for Burger Bodega’s second location in Katy, Dhanani says it’s still working through securing the necessary permits to begin construction.

news-you-can-eat openings bas's cheesesteaks