Council Approves New HEB Zoning

The Bellaire City Council unanimously approved a zoning change Monday that clears the way for HEB to build a new, 70,000 square foot grocery store in the 5100 block of Bissonnet.
The council, however, urged the grocery store chain and its landlord, the Brixmor Property Group, to work with the current business owners in the shopping center as they search for new locations.
The eight other businesses in the current shopping center will be required to relocate, when HEB starts construction on the new and bigger store.
Bellaire Mayor Phil Nauert and members of the council said that the city’s efforts to attract new economic development shouldn’t hurt the businesses which have served the community’s residents for decades.
While acknowledging widespread community support for a new and bigger HEB, Councilman Roman Reed expressed concern about the future of the small businesses in the shopping center.
“They’ve been good business owners in our community,” Reed said. “I have conversed with a lot of them, and some of them have five years left on their leases…To me, that’s unacceptable.”
Reed and other council members agreed that HEB and the owner of the shopping center need to meet and work with the other business owners.
Councilman Pat McLaughlan, who raised that issue at an earlier meeting, concurred.
He also suggested that HEB meet with the other business owners.
“They are at a loss,” McLaughlan said.
The businesses in the center include an insurance agency, several restaurants, a dry cleaners, a nail salon and a liquor store.
The shopping center includes the Hong Kong Chef, a Chinese restaurant that has operated in Bellaire for 60 years.
Mayor Pro Tem Mandy Nathan also suggested that the city of Bellaire “is doing what it can to help those business owners.”
Councilman Gus Pappas agreed.
“It does concern me,” Pappas said. “I’d like for us to do what we can, from the city’s perspective and at least see what some of their needs are.”
Nauert echoed that concern.
“I’ve seen a change in the city of Bellaire’s efforts to facilitate business development. And I would like to think we are trying to be creative in keeping business owners in Bellaire.”
The mayor said that he hopes the new HEB store will attract other businesses to Bellaire.
“We hope the HEB development spurs a lot of redevelopment in this area. Hopefully, this is a significant step in that direction.”