Makeover on the menu at Central Market

San Antonio’s premier homegrown grocery store has a serious spa-day makeover on the books.

H-E-B has announced plans for “major renovations” to its upscale Central Market store at 4821 Broadway in Alamo Heights. The grocery giant’s luxe marque has operated at that site since 1999, but the address was home to an H-E-B store for half a century before that.

The upgrades, which are slated to be completed in two phases, will shore up the property with structural and cosmetic enhancements, including a new facade, parking lot and loading dock improvements, and an interior overhaul that will relocate some departments, expand the store’s cafe footprint and add windows to allow more natural daylight into the aisles.

“For decades, at the corner of Broadway and Patterson, a special relationship has been built between our store, this community, and our Partners,” Stephen

Butt, president of Shareholder Relations and Central Market Division, said in a media release. “With a commitment to strengthen that bond well into the future, we are announcing plans for a significant re-investment in

Broadway Central Market. This major project will take time to complete. When our work is finished, the newly renovated Broadway Central Market and our friendly Partners will be well equipped to continue serving our

customers with the freshest and best specialty products the world has to offer, for many years to come.”

The first phase of Central Market’s makeover was announced late last year, and included the parking lot improvements and addition of a dedicated produce loading dock. That phase is slated to begin in the spring and projected to be completed in late 2024.

The second phase, which is still awaiting approval from the city of Alamo Heights, will begin after phase one is complete, with have a target end date of mid-2026. The store will remain open during construction.

H-E-B shared renderings of Central Market’s exterior facelift, which suggest sweeping changes to the current building. The renderings show a high-style facade featuring wood, glass, metal and brick replacing the store’s current creamy monotone. Raised planter boxes, expanded outdoor seating, vibrant signage and pedestrian walkway improvements also are detailed in the images.

Not all of the upcoming improvements may be obvious to shoppers. Some, which are still awaiting approval, aim to add energy-efficient fixtures and equipment throughout the store, and upgrades to the staff break room and administrative offices.

H-E-B Renovations to the upscale Central Market in San Antonio will include a new facade, H-E-B says.