Though perhaps insigificant on a national scale, surely one of the largest grocers in the Texas market is the H.E.B. chain, founded by Florence Butt in Kerrville Texas, circa 1905.
Well, almsot everything..... just keep reading!
Now headquartered in San Antonio, H.E.B., the chain is a rousing success. Known for providing truly low prices, sans gimmicks such as discount cards, jinked-up customer loyalty progams and the like. That, along with an astonishing variety of worldwide products and fresh, in-store services such as made-on-site tortillas, a true in-store butcher, bakery, sushi and many, many other offerings has vaulted H.E.B. past their competitors in damn near every market they serve.
H.E.B.'s new 90,000 sq. ft. store in Bastrop, TX. H.E.B. has dozens such throughout Texas.
Fact is, I can remember living in San Antonio from '76 to '99, in which time that the Kroger stores attempted to penetrate that market. As I recall, they only lasted about ten years, finally giving up in the face of H.E.B.s superior pricing, larger stores and greater and fresher selections. Kroger packed it in with their tails between their corporate legs, and abandoned the San Antonio area altogether.
So, I've been an reliable H.E.B. customer for many years. But now, that may change.
You see, H.E.B. has caved to the whiny pisstards of the "Politically Correct" element of society. At the start of this holiday Christmas season, one could browse the aisles while loading up the basket with the trappings of the season, all while enjoying the splendid Christmas music softly wafting down from the speakers above.
Well, until just a couple of days ago, that is.
It seems that some person, persons or entity unknown has prevailed upon H.E.B. to cancel the Christas music, as they had taken offense to those traditional tunes. Now, I don't know where the complaint originated, but according to the H.E.B. employees I spoke with, it seems to have been elevated to a regional or corporate level, as the three H.E.B. stores I've visited in the past two days are bereft of cheerful, Christmas Melodies. Moreover, I've asked several people in other areas to check on this for me, and they've verified the same; if you want to hear some really lame '50s surf tunes, just visit your local H.E.B. !!!
As I sat down to complie this report, I first visited the H.E.B. website, wherein I found this gem of a sub-link under their homepage tab "Company Info".
"......... We must understand and become sensitive to issues of culture, laungage, values, beliefs, holidays and traditions if we are to stay committed to our Customer Promise: to provide a shopping experience that meets their individual needs."
Just as long as it's not the Ango-European culture, English language, American and Texan values, Christian beliefs or holidays and the Great American Christmas Traditions of saying "Merry Christmas", playing Christmas music and generally acknowledging that it is the Christmas Season.
And to this, I, and I am sure many others, take great offense.
H.E.B. may be a company with a Texas origin and history, but I'd damn sure wager my last penny that Florence Butt, and her son Howard E. Butt are at redline R.P.M. in their graves 'bout now.
It's sad to see an otherwise fine company with a great Texas heritage, forfiet it's stature to the cowardace to stand up for what is right, thus sacraficing itself on the altar of Political Correctness.
Now, I don't quite think that H.E.B.'s decision is yet boycott-worthy. But I do think that it's fitting that dozens, nay hundreds and thousands of courteous but firm and unyielding phone calls ring-in to their corporate offices in San Antonio. That, and both snail and e-mails.
It'd be a damn shame to let 'em get away with this, without response. So with no futher ado, here's how to get 'em:
Attn: Customer Relations Department
P.O. Box 839999
San Antonio, TX 78283-3999
800-432-3113 or 210-938-8357
I'd give you their e-mail addy, but it just links to a survey. Pity.
Well, even if H.E.B. won't say it, I will.....
.......Merry Christmas!
That's too bad, another iconic Texas mainstay falling prey to the dreaded political correctness.
Growning up in the Corpus Christi area (Portland, to be specific), there was an H-E-B a couple of blocks from the house. I'm dating myself here, but in the late 1960's / early 1970's H-E-B was on to the Space Craze big time; I still have a two inch tall pile of H-E-B / NASA 8 by 10 photos from one of the store's promtions. NASA photos from a grocery store make quite a mark on a young boy, I've held H-E-B in high regard ever since.
Until now.
Posted by: Michael | December 16, 2006 at 11:41 PM
You did inadvertantly give the address. Go to their website. At the bottom, click on Contact Us and make your comment on the bottom of the form. Worked for me.
Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Patty | December 17, 2006 at 07:38 AM
Incredible...although not really all that surprising, I guess. I went to the UPS store today and asked to buy a book of stamps. He gave me a book of stamps alright, but they were snowflake stamps. So I said...do you have any others? I'm trying to send out Christmas cards. "Nope, that's all we have. Snowflakes...that'll be perfect for Christmas cards!"
I wasn't going to hold up the line, and I had my stamps, so I just left. I live in FLORIDA...there are NO SNOWFLAKES here! We have Christmas without snowflakes! Why not have CHRISTMAS stamps with CHRIST on them??? GAAAAAHHH!!!!
Posted by: Stephen | December 19, 2006 at 12:41 AM
GAAAAAHHH!! is right. HEB really screwed up.
Posted by: JEB | December 20, 2006 at 03:19 PM
Tag, you're it.
Posted by: Russ | December 24, 2006 at 06:35 PM
I apologize for my email, I am a Priest within my Latter Day Sainst Faith, and my wife is a missionary in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. She teaches English at a high school there. There is a major crisis there, in the cities of Santa Cruz, and Beni. It has been storming every day for over two months, As a consequence there is no ground transportation ability. People are suffering because of no food or drinking warer and medical sup-plies. Mosquitos are transmitting serious diseases. The Government of Bolivia is unable to assist these communities. Cattle are even drowning due to deep waters. I beseech you to help me find the goods the people urgently need. I will provide you with as many referances as you wish. Just help me please. I would even need a way to transport materials there.
Please respond. The Red Cross does not respond to me, and I am a volunteer there,
Sincerely, John Powers
Posted by: John Powers | February 23, 2007 at 09:13 PM