For customers who have felt like navigating Central Market was akin to a particularly chilling scene from The Shining, there’s good news. The San Antonio flagship of H-E-B’s upscale grocer has reopened its food service area after a thorough renovation.
The remodeled section brings together the store's deli, bakery, sushi, chef-prepared cases, and cafe with bigger, brighter production areas. Shoppers can browse an artisan bread wall, charcuterie, an expanded assortment of cheeses, and a self-serve briny bar to add a little dazzle to their next charcuterie board.
The area will continue to serve as the central (yuk yuk) spot for harried customers who need a quick lunch or dinner. Among the offerings are a rice and noodle bowl station, salad and hot soup bars, grab-and-go cases, and a sandwich and burger counter. The latter has ditched the thick patties of old to introduce three new smash burgers.
The burger patties have gone from thick to thin.Photo courtesy of Central Market
In other words, the section isn’t a radical departure for the store, but that hasn’t kept some longtime fans from grumbling. Some complained about a lack of shade trees in the parking lot, some kvetched about the cheeses, and still others had a beef with the design.
“Ruined it,” wrote one Instagram user. "The charm was how intimate and cozy it was; now it’s a miniature version of every other cold-new H-E-B.”
Still, most of the commentariat seemed to welcome the news — and the return of shopping convenience to a store that has been a little chaotic since beginning a complete overhaul in 2024. But there’s still a way to go before the entire shopping experience is finished. A new floral department and updated checkout lanes will debut this fall, and the full remodel will stretch until 2027.
