Growing up in San Antonio, I have a deep love for HEB that people from Dallas or other places north of Round Rock just can't comprehend. I love that their brand name products taste as good as name brand (and their frozen pizza is actually better than Digiorno thank you very much). I love the spiffy red shirts that the staff wears. It just feels like home.
As Paul and I were contemplating the move from College Station, I had two requirements for small town locations. 1) I had to be within 30 minutes of a Target and 2) I had to have my HEB. (I know I know I am ridiculously easy to please and I occasionally wonder if there shouldn't have been at least a third qualifier; but that is another post).
Now those of you who know HEB understand that their are various levels of HEB. They range from HEB pantries to HEB pluses and of course Central Market for those who love everything organic. HEB does intensive studies of their clientele and they choose to stock their stores according to what their clients desire. For example, the HEB near A&M was full of freezer meals and premade goodies, a gi-normous beer isle and every end cap stocked pre packaged nuts and candies and all kinds of other goodies that contribute to the freshman 15. The HEB in Bryan sells cactus and every other kind of Mexican cooking item known to man. The new HEB in south college station has a bulk foods section and a ton of organic choices. These HEB researchers are smart. They know their market.
This brings us to the HEB in Wharton. At first glance it is just fine. It is the only grocery store (other than super Wal-mart) in Wharton so its pretty big and they carry a lot of things. I was pretty happy that they have my "central market organic milk" (and yes, I know it probably isn't anything special as Paul tells me all the time) and they of course have my HEB brands for lots of items including frozen pizza that we eat way too much.
However, there are a few "big city" conveniences that the Wharton HEB no longer carries like my soy coffee creamer or my yummy pre made tortilla soup and the produce has sometimes turned and leaves us eating frozen veggies or bagged salad night after night.
So in preparation for the holiday baking and cooking season Emmerich and I took a trip to the big city of Sugarland to the HEB there. I was in Heaven. Gorgous produce, a full service fish and meat area, fresh baked goodies, bulk items, a whole cooler of stinky cheese, a huge wine section and organic stuff coming out of every corner and yes soy coffee creamer and tortilla soup. Luckily Emmerich was in a good mood because I spent forever just soaking it in. I had almost forgotten about my love of stinky cheeses. So I picked up the few items I needed and rang up a huge bill on items I wanted.
However, in the midst of soaking all of these great choices in, I looked around and noticed that something was missing. It was the people. You see, in a small town you ALWAYS see someone you know at the store (and I really don't even know that many people). Someone always stops me to coo at Emmerich. Old ladies turn around as we pass to get a peek at her in the basket. No one ever stands in the middle of the isles blocking the path. People actually smile at you and make small talk just because. And even the checkout ladies comment on how fast Em is growing. Yes the check out ladies (like my favorite, Dawn) remember us, know us, and actually talk to us.
It took my trip to the fancy HEB to realize how much I like the people at my little HEB. So even though they don't have fontina cheese or soy coffee creamer, they do have friendly customers and staff and I think I'll choose to be thankful for that (and to run to Sugarland for a fancy HEB fix every once in a while).
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