By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
Under overcast skies Wednesday, H-E-B celebrated 100 years of serving Del Rio with a gathering outside its store at 500 Pecan St.
The celebration honored a community that helped turn an early expansion gamble into a foundation for the company’s growth. H-E-B now
operates 460 stores across Texas and Mexico.
The Del Rio store became the company’s second successful location after its original store in Kerrville. Four earlier attempts to expand into other Central Texas and Hill Country communities had failed, said Bill Anderson, H-E-B’s president of Central Market and executive vice president of San Antonio Food and Drug.
“It’s here in our story that the importance of Del Rio in our company history begins, because in 1926 he decided, let’s try this one more time,” Anderson said of Howard Edward Butt. “He took his learnings and opened a store right here in Del Rio, Texas.”
Anderson credited Del Rio residents with helping the store thrive and fueling the company’s expansion.
“It thrived and became a huge catalyst for the company’s growth, leading to stores in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond,” he said.
Some of H-E-B’s top executives arrived in Del Rio Wednesday morning aboard the company’s Challenger 300 corporate jet.
Those attending included H-E-B President Roxanne Orsak; Executive Vice President Jeffrey Butt; Anderson; Winell Herron, senior vice
president of public affairs, diversity and environmental affairs; and Douglas Gonzalez, Border Region director of marketing and merchandising. Other company leaders from across the region also attended the historic celebration.
The ceremony also recognized H-E-B’s continued support for the community.
Del Rio Mayor Al Arreola Sr. said after the ceremony that H-E-B supports the community throughout the year, providing holiday meals, contributing $10,000 toward the city’s Fourth of July fireworks and assisting during emergencies.
Arreola described H-E-B as one of the community’s strongest partners, often reaching out first to ask what residents need. He recalled the company’s quick response during the 1998 flood, when it provided water and other supplies.
While presenting H-E-B representatives with a key to the city, Arreola also took the opportunity to lobby for a third store on Del Rio’s north side.
“And the vision of this mayor is hopefully to get the third one further down the north side,” Arreola said.
Another theme running through the celebration was the role Del Rio’s two stores have played in launching careers.
Gonzalez said he had counted former Del Rio employees in the audience who had gone on to become top store leaders elsewhere in the company.
“I lost count at eight,” Gonzalez said. “So many, many leaders have had their foundation here at Del Rio Number One, and we’re so appreciative of that across the border region.”
The store’s influence also extended beyond H-E-B’s corporate ranks.
Miguel Garcia, co-owner of Del Rio-based Julio’s Chips and Salsa, worked at the “Little H-E-B” during high school and credited the experience with helping prepare him for his career.
“I got my start here,” Garcia said. “I have so many mentors here that helped me learn so much.”
The centennial celebration will continue throughout the week, including family festivities at both Del Rio locations Saturday.
