No Wallet Required

Texas grocer H-E-B finally rolls out digital tap-to-pay services

It's about time, H-E-B.

Photo courtesy of H-E-B

Texas' favorite grocery store has some good news for shoppers who have a habit of forgetting their wallets. H-E-B is starting a phased rollout for digital tap-to-pay services, starting in San Antonio before spreading to the rest of the chain's stores.

The rollout began Monday, October 7. A release says it'll take "about a week" to spread to all stores in the region before making it ways across Texas. Although it is not known which stores will add the service on what date, the rollout includes all H-E-B stores, including Mi Tienda, H-E-B's Mexican grocery store that has locations in Houston.

With tap to pay, shoppers will finally be able to use smartphone-based systems such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay, as well as tapping a physical card.

Payments can be made with those apps, or "digital wallets," at cash registers and self-checkout lanes, as well as restaurants and pharmacies within H-E-B stores. They won't be accepted right away at H-E-B fuel pumps, but customers can use them to pay for gas if they bring their phones to the fuel station payment window.

This isn't exactly cutting-edge technology; Google Wallet launched in 2011, leading the market, and was followed by Apple Pay in 2014. But it's not ubiquitous either. In 2023, a poll by Forbes Advisor found that barely more than half of respondents used digital wallets more than traditional forms of payment.

H-E-B is on a bit of a payment revolutionizing kick, also launching a debit card in 2022 and a partnership in August of 2024 with the H-E-B-owned delivery service Favor for its fastest order fulfillment yet. Central Market and Joe V’s Smart Shop, two other H-E-B brands, also recently launched tap to pay.

“At H-E-B, we’re always exploring a broad range of technologies to enhance how customers shop and pay for products,” H-E-B vice president Ashwin Nathan said in a statement. “This has been one of the most requested services we have received from our customers and partners, and we are excited to now make this popular technology available at all our H-E-B locations.”

More information about H-E-B is available at heb.com.

h-e-b grocery technology

improving emancipation park

Historic Houston park's renovated cultural center completes $18.5M project

People at the Cultural Center at Emancipation Park opening.

Photo courtesy of Darryl Howard Photography.

Third Ward residents got to see the new Cultural Center as part of National Night Out.

Historic Third Ward now has an equally historic, newly-renovated third space in the form of the Cultural Center at Emancipation Park. The Emancipation Park Conservancy officially opened it for the public on Tuesday, October 6, as part of the National Night Out campaign, a community-building initiative designed to bring together neighborhoods and the law enforcement officers that serve them.

“Emancipation Park has always been a place where the Third Ward community comes together to celebrate, connect, and create memories,” said Corey Wilson, president and CEO of EPC. “The completion of the Cultural Center will create even more opportunities for people to learn, gather, and experience arts and culture. National Night Out is the perfect opportunity to invite the community back into this space and celebrate what’s next for Emancipation Park.”

The renovations to the Cultural Center are part of an $18.5 million investment plan that built on a the success of a $34 million campaign completed in 2017 that has fundamentally revamped the park as a modern neighborhood multi-purpose space and gathering spot. Among the upgrades are walls lined with historic photographs and infographics about the history of Third Ward that offer residents and visitors a chance to understand the rich heritage of the area while also providing venues for classes, workshops, and presentations. Other improvements include a new gift shop and enhanced audio-visual amenities.

Emancipation Park is actually the oldest public park in Houston. It was founded in 1872 by four formerly enslaved persons, including the Reverend Jack Yates. The park was built to host early Juneteenth celebrations and has been a cornerstone of Third Ward ever since.

“Emancipation Park was created by the community, for the community, and that legacy continues to guide its future,” said Ramon Manning, board chair of EPC. “We are excited to open the doors to the renovated Cultural Center and welcome our neighbors to enjoy this special place, make memories, and celebrate all that Emancipation Park means to the Third Ward.”

Funding for the Cultural Center's renovation comes from Houston Endowment; The Brown Foundation, Inc.; Wortham Foundation; Shell; O’Quinn Foundation; Claire and Joe Greenberg; Sarah and Doug Foshee; Melvyn and Cyvia Wolff Family Fun; Sara and Bill Morgan; and Carla Knobloch. The Jacqueline W. Bostic Stage was added to the park last year as a performance space thanks to support from the Kinder Foundation.

Photo courtesy of Darryl Howard Photography.

Third Ward residents got to see the new Cultural Center as part of National Night Out.

emancipation park parks openings