Sip 'n' shop

Bar wars? Montrose H-E-B appears poised to compete against new Whole Foods within-store wine bar

The H-E-B construction site shows the skeleton of the building going up.
Photo by Clifford Pugh
Entrance to the new H-E-B Montrose store
Photo by Clifford Pugh

One of the more talked-about amenities in the new Whole Foods on Waugh is the Bayou Bar — an in-store craft beer and wine bar where patrons can sit and enjoy one of 12 beverages on tap.

We already knew that the new Montrose H-E-B — which has been long in the works and will sit at the corner of Dunlavy and West Alabama, about a mile from the new Whole Foods and near the revamped "Disco" Kroger —would have an impressive beer and wine selection. But now, it seems it's upping the ante with an in-store bar, as well.

How do I know this? I'd like to say it's because I've done some serious digging in my quest to be ever on top of grocery news, but it's actually because I live less than 300 yards away from the construction site on Branard Street (the border of which is the site of a much-debated gate.)

We got notice last week that H-E-B plans to sell alcohol for consumption on-premises, which means one thing: Butt's Bar! (For those not in the know, H-E-B is owned by the Butt family of San Antonio.)

All joking aside, we can't wait to belly up.

The official line from H-E-B officials is that a final decision about whether to include an in-store bar has not been reached, and the permit was applied for in advance.

"We are looking into the possibility of having [a bar]," an HEB spokeswoman tells CultureMap.

The store is currently under construction with a planned late fall opening.

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bang for your buck

These are the 6 most affordable ZIP codes for Houston renters

Facebook / City of Bellaire, Texas

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Trying to afford buying a home in Houston is difficult enough with current mortgage rates, and doubly so if you're already paying high rent on an apartment or a house. But there are six Houston ZIP codes where renters can get the most bang for their buck, according to a new study by financial services company CashNetUSA.

To find the most affordable ZIP codes to rent in the U.S., analysts compared median household incomes by ZIP code to the average annual rent costs using the Zillow Observed Rent Index. ZIP codes where the average annual rental costs required the lowest percentage of median household income were considered the "most affordable."

Two Houston-area ZIP codes specifically stood out in CashNetUSA's ranking of the most affordable ZIP codes for renters in America: 77401 in Bellaire (No. 9) and 77094 in the Energy Corridor (No. 12).

According to the study's findings, the average monthly cost of a rental in Bellaire comes out to $2,401.25, and the median annual income of a Bellaire household is $210,577. Analysts then calculated that the annual rent of a home in the Bellaire ZIP code only takes up 13.68 percent of a household's median income, which is the ninth-lowest in the nation.

But as Houstonians know all too well, Bellaire residents aren't exactly struggling to pay their rent, seeing as they live in one of the wealthiest places in America.

Meanwhile in Houston's 77094 ZIP, annual rent costs only represent 13.88 percent of a household's median annual income. The area – which encompasses the Kingsland Estates, Green Trails, Green Trails Oaks, Windsor Park Estates, Windsor Park Lakes, and Barker neighborhoods – has a median household income of over $168,000, and average rent costs add up to $1,944.58, according to the study.

CashNetUSA found the No. 1 most affordable ZIP code for renters nationwide is 66224 in Leawood, Kansas, where annual rent only takes a 10.57 percent cut out of a household's median annual income.

Elsewhere in Texas, San Antonio's 78248 ZIP ranked as the No. 4 most affordable ZIP code for renters in the U.S., and the No. 1 most affordable ZIP code statewide. The North Texas ZIP code 75013 in Allen ranked two spots behind Houston to claim the No. 14 spot nationally.

The most affordable Houston ZIP codes for renters
CashNetUSA further unveiled the five most affordable ZIP codes across major U.S. cities, including in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.

Following 77094 (which took the No. 1 spot citywide) is 77008 (No. 2), which spans Greater Heights, Houston Heights, Shady Acres, and Lazybrook/Timbergrove. Rent costs in this ZIP code averaged out to $1,856 per month, the report found.

Landing in the No. 3 spot is 77024, which includes four of Houston's historic Memorial Villages, including Hedwig, Bunker Hill, Hunters Creek, and Piney Point. The report said average rent in the area comes out to $1,730 per month, which takes up 16.88 percent of a household's median annual income.

The remaining top two most affordable ZIP codes for Houston renters are located in 77007 (Washington Avenue Coalition/Memorial Park, Rice Military, and Crestwood/Glen Cove) and 77345 in Kingwood, which is about 30 miles north of downtown Houston.