Houston: H-E-B to Construct a New Joe V’s Smart Shop

In Houston, H-E-B plans to develop a Joe V’s Smart Shop grocery store near the City Park community in Houston near Highway 288.

The proposed Joe V’s Smart Shop will consist of a 56,786-SF multi-use building at 1227 W. Orem Drive at Highway 288, as stated by a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

Construction on the project is estimated to begin in May 2026 and finish in June 2027, as stated by TDLR. The cost is estimated at nearly $11.9 million.

H-E-B introduced Joe V’s Smart Shop in 2010 in Houston with a goal of offering low-price, high-quality groceries. The stores sell cut meats, fresh produce, tortillas and breads made in store, and sushi.

The new location adds to 11 Joe V’s Smart Shop stores in the Houston area and three in Dallas-Fort Worth area. The stores collectively employ 2,720 people.

In November, Joe V’s Smart Shop opened its first store in Irving near Dallas.

“As we open our 14th Joe V’s Smart Shop, we’re excited to serve more Texans and expand our presence in North Texas,” Roxanne Orsak, H-E-B Chief Operating Officer, said when the deal was released. “We are committed to supporting this dynamic community with our fresh product selections and exceptional value.”

In north Houston, Joe V’s Smart shop opened a 55,000-SF store in a former Fry’s Electronics location at Interstate-45 and West Road in August.

H-E-B recently opened H-E-B Jordan Ranch, a 116,000-SF store at Jordan Crossing Boulevard and Texas Heritage Parkway in the Jordan Ranch Market shopping center to serve residents of Katy and Fulshear.

In other grocery expansions, Trader Joe’s is opening its Kingwood store this week as part of a national expansion that includes two stores in Houston.

San Antonio-based H-E-B has more than 455 stores in Texas and Mexico. H-E-B operates the Joe V’s Smart Shop, Central Market, and Mi Tienda store brands.

Houston has been a market for expansion and innovation in the overall grocery sector as the population grows.

Sprouts, a Phoenix-based grocer targeting health-minded shoppers, is opening several new stores in the Houston area. The chain, which has more than 450 stores including about 60 in Texas, had earlier laid out plans to open at least 35 stores in 2025.

Walmart, the nation’s largest grocer, opened a new prototype store in Cypress northwest of Houston this year.