Man of the People
H-E-B pitchman uses Facebook to announce Energy Corridor store shutter
Never let it be said the Scott McClelland doesn't listen to his customers. The H-E-B Houston president and popular pitchman took to the Memorial Area Eats Facebook group to address complaints about the grocery chain's undersized Dairy Ashford location.
In a lengthy post, McClelland explained that the company has decided to close the store effective on September 9. "There hasn’t been enough space to run powerful perishable departments or carry the kind of broad assortment you want. As a result, the store has never been a destination trip for 77079," he writes.
In a statement provided to CultureMap, H-E-B Houston director of public affairs Cyndy Garza Roberts confirms the plans to close the store and convert it into an eCommerce Fulfillment Center that will support the company's increasingly popular curbside pickup and home delivery options. She adds that the store's employees will be "given the opportunity to interview for available positions at H-E-B stores in surrounding areas."
"We remain committed to serving this community and regret any inconvenience this closure creates for customers," Garza Roberts stated. "While there are no current plans to construct a new H-E-B store, we will continue to seek a solution this area deserves."
While the company doesn't have "current plans" to replace the store, it isn't abandoning the neighborhood for good. In the Facebook post, McClelland adds that he's already directed the company's real estate team to search for a property large enough to build a store on the model of the popular Montrose location or the recently-opened Bellaire store.
"I am committed to getting 77079 a better option," McClelland writes. "It won’t happen overnight. When we do, it will be the best grocery store in the area."
