Buckle Up, Melissa: H-E-B Set to Open Next to Buc-ee’s This Week

How does a town of about 24,000 people land an H-E-B and a Buc-ee’s, when Dallas has neither? Who knows? Are we jealous? Probably not. Dallas has enough traffic woes and is not looking to adopt more, much less with both at one intersection. (Although Dallas is finally getting an H-E-B in 2026).

Melissa, 40 miles northeast of downtown Dallas along U.S. 75, had a population of 1,350 in 2000 and now officially has 23,571. The town is a victim – if you will – of urban sprawl: You can run, but you can’t hide from urbanization; you move out, we pull you back in.

At least all those in the northern territories should be fed well.

The H-E-B in Melissa is set to open on May 14. The Texas-based grocery has been selling staples since the early 1900s but only arrived in North Texas in 2022, where it has been welcomed as a rock star. The privately owned chain has more than 435 stores in Texas and Mexico and more than $46 billion in annual sales.

Melissa marks the northernmost store in the state, edging out a store under construction in Prosper. It is located at the northeast corner of U.S. 75 and Highway 121.

This new H-E-B is 131,000 square feet and offers all of the amenities this groceryland and resort has become known for, including a bakery, deli, sushi counter, live cooking demos, a drive-thru pharmacy and a True Texas BBQ restaurant (also with a drive-thru). You can pick up your loot curbside or even have it delivered to your home.

H-E-B in Dallas Proper

Earlier this year, we reported that H-E-B is finally putting a store in Dallas city limits at the southeast corner of Hillcrest Road and LBJ Freeway (between the Dallas North Tollway and Central Expressway). The store is expected to open in 2026.

While many are familiar with H-E-B’s upscale sister concept, Central Market, with three Dallas locations and one in Plano, H-E-B recently opened two of its lower price concepts, Joe V’s Smart Shop. One is in southern Dallas at 4101 Wheatland Road and the other at 7700 Samuell Blvd. in East Dallas. We visited the southern Dallas location shortly after it opened and loved the slimmed-down version of the store. Less fuss (like a floral department) but many great deals and options.