Another Metroplex Central Market?

Central Market looking for another Metroplex site

By Andrea Jares

Star-Telegram Staff Writer


Central Market, the popular upscale grocery store that came to Fort Worth two and a half years ago, is shopping for a site for another store in the Metroplex, the company said Thursday.

"Since H-E-B/Central Market is in the very early planning stages for this addition, the specific location for the store and timing for the new location are yet to be determined," the San Antonio-based company said in a statement.

The store would be the fourth in North Texas and the eighth in the state. Central Market, which sells epicurean foods and prepared meals, opened its first North Texas store in Fort Worth in October 2001. Then it opened stores in Dallas and Plano.

Mike Rosa, senior vice president of operations for the Buxton Co., which helps retailers find the best locations for their stores, said stores such as Central Market, Whole Foods and Market Street are niche groceries that target a different mix of customers than a typical neighborhood grocery store.

"In thinking of the ones I'm familiar with, you can't help but notice that they're in areas with high disposable incomes," he said.

Although the competition among grocery stores is fierce in North Texas, some cities, including Southlake, have sought upscale grocers for years.

The stores typically are up to 100,000 square feet and have up to 400 employees.


I have only been to the Central Market in Chapel Hill once, but man I loved it! So much specialty food...not to mention the gelato stand. I wish all grocery stores had one, *sigh*. I hope they open a store in Southlake, the demographics there sure would support it.
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Paschal rules!!!

I wouldn't be surprised if this store landed in NE Tarrant (Southlake would be a likely locale).

My sources have indicated that CM had planned on going into Southlake/NE Tarrant soon after opening Plano (similar dems). Also the speculation is that they are looking at 2 new locations in Houston as well as the prospect of offering CM type amenities at certain regular HEBs that are in higher demographic (incom-wise) areas.

I can almost guarantee that the location will be Southlake. They definitely won't build another Fort Worth store, and Arlington has almost no chance.

The only real suitable location is Southlake. I'm surprised they haven't already built a location there with all the construction taking place in NE Tarrant. Southlake, Grapevine, and Colleyville almost always seem to get all the expanding stores and restaruants before Fort Worth ever does.

Has anyone here been in the Market Street store in Colleyville? I don't get up that way too often so I have not. I understand that it is somewhat like a Central Market except that it carries a full line of regular groceries as well. The company's website is at: http://www.marketstreetunited.com

Since the Colleyville store appeared to be about the same size as Central Market when I drove by, my guess is that only way they have room to carry regular groceries is to have less selection in specialty items than Central Market. It would be interesting to see the two chains go head to head. I wonder what percentage of Central Market shoppers do all or the vast majority of their grocery shopping there. If most go to other stores as well, perhaps Market Street will do ok as some might find it more convenient to go to one store rather than two.

I read in the DBJ that The Tower's retail base is a consideration for some type of Central Market-controlled outlet, whether it be just the 'cafe on the run' or a mom-and-pop style store.

When I went to Market Street, it reminded me of the Flagship Tom Thumb on the corner of Bellaire and Hulen except the health and vitamins section happened to be where the Flagship TT placed the frozen foods section. Also, they have a second story cooking school area, just as Central Market does.

Market Street isn't as good as Central Market as far as specialty foods is concerned.

I assume that the majority of Central Market customers usually only shop there for specialty hard-to-find items, bulk foods (grains, spices), the meats, seafood, bakery, the large fruit and veggie selection, and prepared foods. While some customers may pick up a few standard items while they are there, I figure that most shoppers still go to Tom Thumb or Albertson's for their normal grocery shopping. I do.

One big reason is because Central Market doesn't stock a large variety of items you'd expect to see in a grocery store such as cereal, cookies, cleaning supplies, frozen dinners, etc. Also Central Market has been known to charge higher prices for these standard items.

The bottom line is that it is cheaper to buy your normal everyday items at Tom Thumb and visit Central Market when you need to pick up veal scalopini or imported Shaoxing wine.

Tom Thumb is cheap? LOL

I do all my food shopping at CM. And it is a myth that they charge higher prices for comparable items - I've compared (although Fiesta and Carnival do have lower prices for most produce items, the selection is usually not the same quality).

Yes, I've found Tom Thumb to be cheaper (not CHEAP) than both Albertson's and Kroger.

I always save atleast $5 when I shop there by using the Reward card. This is something that Central Market doesn't have.

And no, they don't raise their prices in order to put an item on sale.

I like Market Street United, but not as much as CM or WFM.

I think Southlake would be a good location for CM.

I also think that Fort Worth could support another CM.

Peace