It's a go
After weeks of delay (and a school protest), beer and wine flow at the MontroseH-E-B
H-E-B Montrose officially started beer and wine sales Thursday after amonth-long battle with the nearby St. Stephen's school.Photo by Julie Knutson
By Jan. 7, H-E-B hopes to serve beer and wine from its cafe.Photo by Julie Knutson
Vendors rushed to place beer and wine at the new Montrose H-E-B Thursday morning after the grocery store's ongoing dispute with the neighboring St. Stephen's Episcopal School officially ended.
H-E-B president Scott McClelland told CultureMap that, on Wednesday afternoon, a Houston judge denied an appeal filed by the school. Earlier this month, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett ruled that St. Stephen's small middle school, located within 300 feet of H-E-B's property line, didn't meet the 100 student minimum required by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) to be defined as a "private school."
McClelland said H-E-B managers began scheduling beer and wine deliveries almost immediately upon receiving the news.
By Thursday afternoon, customers were already making purchases after weaving their way through the teams of vendors stocking the formerly-barren department.
By Thursday afternoon, customers were already making purchases after weaving their way through the teams of vendors stocking the formerly-barren department. More deliveries Friday morning should completely fill the shelves.
McClelland noted that organizing the retail section is the main priority at the moment. By the weekend of Jan. 7, beer and wine will be served from the store's cafe area.
Business development manager Melina Mastrojohn offered a quick tour of the new department, highlighting the store's unique array of 22-ounce beer "bombers" and an upcoming wine sale. She also reported that all servers in the cafe area have been certified by TABC.
H-E-B's permit allows beer and wine to be consumed both within the building and outside on its shaded patio, where managers book regular musical guests.
