Home Care In Brookshire, TX

Sometimes, I really miss the 1980s.

Not *everything* of course. But, there were many things to love about that era. Maybe part of that is just common nostalgia for a time when many of our lives were a bit simpler--or at least that's how we remember it today. :)

I've also appreciated Brookshire's Grocery Company for many years.

In our 2022 world, it seems no one has as much time to spend talking with friends and neighbors. Oftentimes, customer service isn't *quite* what it "used to be." Or at least, what we'd hope it would be.

And that's exactly one of the things I admire about this East Texas company. They've always strived to hold to a standard of excellence over the years in a variety of ways.

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That includes what goes into the stores, how the stores are run, customer service, and even how employees are treated. I mean, there's a reason Brookshire's has been named one of the best companies to work for in Texas many times.

And I tell ya, when you see these photos screenshotted from a video they did back in 1982, you can see how even in their marketing endeavors they've always sought to go a bit above and beyond.

This video was set up almost like a musical! We've recently learned that the video link is no longer available, and frankly, that makes us a bit sad--cuz it was so much fun to see! I wonder if they had to have someone come in and professionally "block" them (a theatre term) into these different scenes or if they organized it themselves.

Yes, there were some moments that were SO very 1980s--likely to make you smile and even sweetly chuckle a little (like we all do when we see photos or videos of ourselves from that time.) There was even some '80s rap in there! Love it. ;)

And some of the shots and effects they used were quite challenging to do back in 1982. Seriously--KUDOS to this Brookshire's team from 1982 AND today for holding to that standard of excellence, innovation, and outright FUN not found everywhere.

Here are several photo highlights from the video. I wish I could share the video itself. Maybe they'll repost it when they see how much we enjoyed it. Hey, a girl can hope, right?

EDIT: This was originally published February 2023

TYLER, Texas, Sept. 18, 2023 – Brookshire Grocery Co. (BGC) and Diamond Foods announced today that they have entered into an agreement under which BGC will acquire the Diamond Food Market stores in Henrietta, Mineral Wells and Aubrey, Texas. The location in Mineral Wells will be converted to a Brookshire’s and stores in Henrietta and Audrey will be converted to the Spring Market banner.

“We are very excited about this opportunity to further serve our northwest Texas neighbors,” said Brad Brookshire, Chairman and CEO for Brookshire Grocery Co. “We are celebrating our 95th anniversary this month and are proud to have served Texas since 1928. We look forward to a great future ahead with an expanded team with these Diamond stores. Customers will recognize many friendly faces who will be joining our team to serve our customers with quality products at competitive prices along with outstanding customer service.”

After the closing, it is anticipated that each store will undergo a brief transition period with the goal of re-opening within a few days under the new BGC banner. Following the opening, each location will undergo a remodel process to bring new features and expanded offering to customers. The Food Partners acted as strategic and financial advisor to both companies in the transaction.

All current Diamond employees at these locations are being offered employment with BGC. BGC is hosting a hiring fair from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 25, at the Mineral Wells location to fill numerous new positions.

BGC, as a family-owned and led company, has strived to remain true to the strong values of its founder. These include remarkable customer service, clean stores, fresh products and strong community support. Through the years, BGC has grown to become a leading regional grocery retailer with 17,500 employees and more than 205 store locations in four states. Stores operate under the banners of Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods, Spring Market, FRESH by Brookshire’s and Reasor’s.

BGC is certified as a Great Place to Work™ since 2020. The company strives to be an employer of choice by offering professional development and comprehensive health benefit plans along with paid time off, stock ownership, a 401K retirement plan, incentives, educational scholarships and an emergency relief fund.

BGC Mission: Brookshire Grocery Co.’s mission is to create and deliver exceptional experiences and value to our customers through the W.T. Brookshire Way.

Brookshire's Grocery Company is the leader in East Texas for grocery shopping. The family owned behemoth has been in East Texas for almost 100 years and has more than 200 stores not only in East Texas but in Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma, too. Brookshire's Grocery Company also has the Super 1 Foods, Fresh by Brookshire's, Spring Market and Reasor's branded stores. Work has begun on a "new generation store" that will be the tentpole for a new shopping, living and restaurant center on the west side of Tyler.

In early 2023, a press release came from Tour Tyler Texas through Newsbreak that said the Canton Property Group, LLC had sold nine acres to Brookshire's Grocery Company to add a new store in the Bellwood Master Planned Community, otherwise known as Bellwood Park, on the west side of Loop 323 in Tyler. The area is across from Sam's Club. For fans of Brookshire's, this is huge news.

Recently on a Tyler focused Facebook group, a resident asked about the construction that is currently being done at Loop 323 and Earl Campbell Boulevard. Yes, that area will be home to a new Brookshire's store plus a whole lot more. Construction is moving fast, too. I snapped these pictures on Thursday, February 22.

Bellwood Park is a 543 acre development that will house single family homes, shopping, a possible park and maybe even a hotel. Going back to a 2019 article from the Tyler Morning Telegraph, the initial plans were to build a hotel and conference center in that area. A group of investors were seriously looking at that property going back to 2008. The economic recession of that time caused those plans to fall through.

There was even talk of building a TopGolf-like entertainment venue. It wouldn't be an actual TopGolf but it would be something similar, which I have suggested before that an East Texan should bring some people together to build something like this. TopGolf is copyrighted and you need to buy a franchise from that company, which is in the millions. But the concept of TopGolf Is Not. Take their idea and recreate it or even improve upon it. Same can be said for Dave & Busters, another coveted entertainment venue for East Texans.

For those in East Texas who are not big fans of Brookshire's, this could be disappointing news for them. Those East Texans would love to see some new grocery competition in the area like a Kroger or Texas favorite H-E-B. There is the long rumored but never proven handshake agreement between the founders of Brookshire's and H-E-B that they would never build in their areas.

For now, Brookshire's will remain the King of Groceries in East Texas. We'll have to wait and see if this new Bellwood Park can bring some new stuff to Tyler.

At 66,000 square feet, Longview’s FRESH by Brookshire’s store will be 10,000 square feet larger than the original FRESH in Tyler.

Brad Brookshire, company chairman and CEO, told the Longview Economic Development Corp. board Tuesday that the store will likely be the most expensive one the company has ever built, considering inflation.

Julie Woods, vice chair of the LEDCO board, joked with Brookshire about the rivalry between Longview and Tyler.

“Did I hear you say this is going to be 10,000-square-feet larger than the Tyler store?” she asked, which Brookshire confirmed.

“So, we are getting something better than Tyler? I just want to be clear,” Wood said.

Brookshire Grocery Co. owns about 10 acres at the northwest corner of North Eastman Road and North Fourth Street, south of the University of Texas at Tyler Longview University Center. Brookshire said he expects construction to start in the spring and for the store to open in 2025.

Jason Cooper, the company’s vice president of corporate development, told LEDCO board members that Brookshire’s owned the land in Longview for years while planning for the type of store it would build there went through several versions.

“This is a huge project for us,” he said.

On Tuesday, LEDCO board members approved a $1.5 million infrastructure improvement agreement to help the company address sewer and drainage issues at the site. The work will help address requirements by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

A creek runs through the property, and the Corps of Engineers is responsible for protecting waters through a permitting process.

Wayne Mansfield, LEDCO’s president and CEO, said the company contacted LEDCO about the issues.

“There were a lot of challenges for them. This involves where it related to relocation of sewer line and primarily drainage and what the Fort Worth District Corps of Engineers is requiring them to do,” he said.

While LEDCO can’t provide incentives to retail projects, Mansfield said it can help with infrastructure improvements.

“Which we like to do because it benefits the public,” he said.

The Longview FRESH store will be the company’s third. The Tyler store opened in 2011 and has since been remodeled. The second store, in Fate, opened in 2022. The company has 209 stores under five different Brookshire-brand stores.

“We got tired of friends in Tyler going to Dallas to shop at Whole Foods or Central Market,” Brookshire said about the reason the company created the FRESH brand.

“This store is going to be like the store in Fate. It’s different than Tyler,” Brookshire said. “It’s got all the amenities that both stores have.”

That includes sushi, a taco bar, brick oven pizza, chef-prepared food, gelato and an artisan bakery. It also will feature an outdoor patio with a grill where customers can order hamburgers and drinks. The outdoor area will include a stage for live music and a playground.

Brookshire said his grandfather started the company in 1928 and added two more stores in 1930. In 1944 and 1945, in the middle of World War II, his grandfather opened two stores in Longview.

“We’ve been in Longview a very, long, long time,” he said. “We’re very excited about this store.”

The Fate store employees 240 people.

“It’s hard to start these stores because you’ve got all these specialty departments, chefs, seafood, deli, fresh cut meats and the bakeries,” Brookshire said.

He said the company is confident the Longview store will be successful, based on its experience in Fate. The store won’t attract just customers from Longview, but from “the whole East Texas, east-East Texas.”

“I think it will be an asset for Longview and Gregg County and that whole area,” Brookshire said.

LEDCO and city officials lauded the store’s decision to locate in Longview.

“I’m often asked for Longview to recruit specific businesses, and a FRESH store is one of the most common requests I hear,” Mayor Andy Mack said in a statement. “Brookshire’s has been a tremendous community partner, and we can’t wait for them to bring this innovative grocery concept to Longview.”

In the Fall of 2022, the official groundbreaking ceremony took place in Huntington, Texas for the new Brookshire Brothers complex coming to town. After nearly a year, the company's convenience store and fueling station are ready to open.

Huntington BB Groundbreaking

Wednesday, August 30, Brookshire Brothers Express with its adjacent fueling station will be opening. The 3,600-square-foot store sits just off US Highway 59 South, past the northern Huntington city limit sign, and in front of the new Brookshire Brothers grocery store and pharmacy, which are set to open in late 2023.

“Close attention to detail and a deep understanding of what our community wants and needs makes this the perfect one-stop shop,” said Brookshire Brothers’ Public Relations & Corporate Responsibility Manager Melissa Crager. “We’ve been a longtime community partner here, and we are thrilled to elevate the Brookshire Brothers experience in Huntington, starting with our new Express store.”

The store features an expansive selection of beer inside a dedicated beer cave, and the drive-thru accommodates trucks pulling trailers and boats for quick and easy pick-ups.

Cigar aficionados will appreciate the premier humidor that features a wide selection of high-end products. Discount tobacco is also available. There are multiple RV, trailer and boat parking spots next to the fuel station that have eight dispensers with regular, mid-grade and premium options, as well as diesel and non-ethanol Brookshire Brothers’ branded gasoline.

“Along with a large selection of camping items and fishing supplies, this is the perfect stop for any outdoor enthusiast before they head out to their destination,” Crager said. “Hot and cold deli meal options will be available to grab and go, along with a full lineup of all the standard convenience store items, such as sodas, energy drinks, water, candy and snacks.”

Doors open at 6 a.m. and close at 9 p.m., seven days a week.

Simultaneous construction on the main Brookshire Brothers store, just a few hundred feet behind the convenience store, continues. The company projects an estimated completion date in December 2023.

Headquartered in Lufkin, the 100% employee-owned regional franchise celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2021. With nearly 6,000 employee owners, Brookshire Brothers currently operates 116 grocery and convenience stores, 73 pharmacies and 88 fueling stations across Texas and western Louisiana.