Texas-based grocery giant H-E-B LP has picked up additional acreage in the Metroplex to support expected growth in the region.

The supermarket chain from San Antonio bought a 25.6-acre lot in far east Mesquite earlier this week. The site sits along I-20 near FM 741 in Kaufman County. A spokesperson for H-E-B told the Dallas Business Journal the move was in “anticipation of future growth in North Texas.”

While Dallas County has seen a reduction in residents, North Texas has continued to grow, reaching a population of 8.1 million in 2023, as reported in The Dallas Express. The land secured by H-E-B will help the chain accommodate a Metroplex expected to grow by another 400,000 residents by 2028.

The supermarket chain first entered the North Texas market in 2022 with a location in Frisco. Recently, the company expanded with its first Dallas County location in the Las Colinas neighborhood of Irving. The store is scheduled to open late next year at Interstate 635 and Olympus Boulevard.

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In total, the chain operates seven locations in the region.

While H-E-B has not yet announced any plans to develop the site, it could end up housing stores and restaurants, according to city documents.

H-E-B is already constructing a new location in another part of Kaufman County. The nearly 140,000-square-foot space will be located in Forney when it opens.

A 1,550-acre master planned community named Heartland is also in the works at the corner of FM 741 and I-20, where H-E-B recently acquired the land. Huffines Communities and Hodges Architects are developing a town square for the future community.

A retail hub, including McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and 7-Eleven, is also being constructed in the area.

“Your neighborhood H-E-B is our original and primary format and no two stores are alike. We offer Grocer, Bakery, Deli/Food Service, DrugStore, Produce, Floral, Meat, and Seafood departments. The products sold and the store layouts are tailored to the needs of the Customers in each community,” reads a description of the supermarket chain on its website.