San Antonio, TX – Chain Store Opens Mega Kosher Center

    6

    San Antonio, TX – Alon, which means oak in Hebrew, features goods and foods ranging from items for babies to epicurean selections that include organic beef, 400 varieties of cheese, a sushi kiosk, imported beers and a produce department with more than 900 different fruits and vegetables.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    And San Antonio-based H-E-B is betting the 128,000-square-foot food emporium, which boasts the biggest selection of kosher foods in town, will be a “destination store,” drawing members of the Jewish community from as far away as Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley, along with neighborhood residents looking for basic items to gourmet foods.

    While the opening of the Alon Market is an inconvenience for some — H-E-B closed two nearby stores Thursday, at 2323 Lockhill-Selma Road and 14610 Huebner Road — customers were realistic about the changes.

    “I can understand H-E-B,” said Paula Wisness, who said she’s a regular customer of the De Zavala Road H-E-B, but would pop into the Huebner Road store for smaller items. “If I’m spending $120 at De Zavala and $15 here (at Huebner Road), that’s not cost effective for H-E-B.”

    Christy Pines, who was leaving the just-closed Lockhill-Selma store, said she prefers the smaller H-E-B stores. The Alon Market may not be option for her, she said, because she’ll go to a store closer to her home near Jackson-Keller and West Avenue. “I like the easy in-and-out,” she said.

    Yet the store already has fans — leaders in the Jewish community who are happy with its expanded kosher selections, including a kosher bakery and meat market.

    “I am very impressed and pleased with the improved and expanded kosher department,” said Rabbi Chaim Block of Chabad Lubavitch of South Texas. “It’s a huge improvement over the other store at Huebner and Northwest Military that they’re closing.”

    Kosher food must adhere to Jewish dietary laws. Preparing kosher food “is a little bit rigorous,” Block said, and requires supervision. One key rule prohibits mixing dairy and meat products, he said.

    “It’s not about blessing the food. It’s about ensuring a practical adherence to the standards and requirement of the Jewish people for kosher food.”

    Block helped form a local organization to oversee the preparation of kosher foods, while two additional rabbis do on-site supervision, Block said.

    Planning for the kosher items began about two years ago, when the Jewish community learned a store would be built across from the Jewish Community Center.

    “We had some community meetings and went to H-E-B with a list of what we’d like to have,” said Saul Levenshus, CEO of the Jewish Community Center. “And that is what happened. They were very responsive.”

    H-E-B officials say they’re confident that the store’s broad selection will draw a broad customer base.


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    6 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    The Hebbes
    The Hebbes
    15 years ago

    Are these H E B stores called that as short for HEBREW?, if Not then what do the letters stand for?

    great idea
    great idea
    15 years ago

    A far cry from the mom and pop shop that carried the basics. Kol hakavod

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    It’s great that they have a big selection of kosher products. Are there any interesting tourist attractions (things to do) in the area? If yes it might become a popular place in the winter.

    Locals, please respond to the above question!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    HEB stands for Here Everything’s Better – but the guy who started it is H.E.Butts.