On the Road

Travel back in time while visiting Richmond, one of the oldest cities in Texas

Historic downtown Richmond is big on small-town charm.

Photo courtesy of Richmond Economic Development Corporation

With a unique blend of Texas history and small-town charm, Richmond is one of the oldest cities in the state — and the oldest in Fort Bend County, which is part of the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro area.

It has more than 200 years of history to its name, some of which can be seen while strolling through the quaint downtown where you’ll find the boutique shops, local restaurants, and businesses along with historic homes and museums.

Get your foodie fix with a side of history and diversity
There's a diverse dining scene on tap in Richmond, including the nostalgic and delicious Sandy McGee's Restaurant + Bar, which has been a Richmond favorite for more than 25 years and is located in a 120-year-old building that first housed the Richmond Motor Car Company and later the Post Office Pharmacy.

For a taste of NOLA, Mimi's New Orleans has your fix with all the authentic Cajun and Creole you could want — shrimp and grits, jambalaya, gumbo, etouffee, and more!

The Lone Star Saloon offers a one-of-a-kind saloon atmosphere in the historic district and is known for its live music, great food, and full bar. The original saloon burned to the ground in 2008 and was painstakingly rebuilt to reflect its historic past, and has met all the requirements to remain on the official Historic Societies list.

Vino enthusiasts, Unwine'd Wine & Cheese Lounge is your haven for fine wine and charcuterie in historic downtown.

And for a healthy twist, Trough Juice Bar on Third Street downtown is the brainchild of local mom Robin Rosen and her four daughters. Find cold-pressed juices, superfood smoothies, and coffee as well as paninis, salads, and more tasty treats. They also host periodic nighttime yoga sessions on the covered side porch.

See a movie under the stars — and more
First Fridays in downtown Richmond are always an occasion. Every first Friday, the Richmond's Farmers Market sets up shop around 4 pm and, after sunset, there are movies at Wessendorff Park, where you can expect everything from cult faves to classics.

Head to the ranch, but make a pit stop first
Explore the diverse history of Fort Bend County at the Fort Bend Museum, where you can also tour the statement-making 1883 Moore Mansion as well as the fascinating Morton Cemetery.

On Saturdays, you can also discover more than 100 years of Texas history with a trip through time at the George Ranch Historical Park. Located on a 20,000-acre working ranch, the park is divided into four time periods — 1830s, 1860s, 1890s, and 1930s — and features historic home tours, costumed interpreters, hands-on activities, cattle working and blacksmithing demonstrations, and more.

Discover more about Richmond and plan your visit here.

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H-E-B Forever

H-E-B reclaims top spot in annual survey of best U.S. grocers

Photo courtesy of H-E-B

H-E-B scored the top spot on a survey of U.S. grocers.

Shawn Mendes and Camillo Cabello called it quits. The word “cheugy” became a thing. Addison Rae got a Netflix deal. Lots of bummer things happened in 2021. But for Texans, no greater indignity was suffered than H-E-B falling behind Amazon on dunnhumby’s Top U.S. Grocery Retailers list.

Thank goodness that’s all behind us. The consumer research firm recently released its 2022 Retailer Preference Index report, a survey of over 30,000 consumers. Once again, H-E-B took the throne, besting more than 60 grocers ranging from giants like Walmart to beloved regional chains like Wegmens.

To arrive at the rankings, dunnhumby zeroed in on five sectors of customer preference: price, promotions and rewards, quality, speed and convenience, digital, and operations. H-E-B scored near the top of three drivers — price, quality, and digital.

H-E-B slipped to the second spot in 2021 due to that all-too-familiar bogeyman — the Covid-19 pandemic. Quarantines and other outside pressures made timesaving and a seamless eCommerce experience more critical to the average shopper.

With pandemic concerns receding, H-E-B’s overall quality and leadership in price, promotions, and rewards have moved to the top of customers’ minds. Meanwhile, the hometown hero has managed to close the digital gap.

Dunnhumby recognized the shift by naming H-E-B in its inaugural survey of the best online grocery retailers in the U.S. in July 2022. In that study, the San Antonio-based chain received high scores for ease in ordering and payments, on-time deliveries, and accuracy in charges, among other metrics.

However, the reason locals keep giving H-E-B its flowers may be more intangible. The retailer has made a name for itself by supporting small Texas companies and supporting community causes, particularly education. And, of course, its fleets are among the first to act during statewide emergencies.

As dunnhumby’s online study stated in 2022, “It is worth highlighting the regional grocer has the best emotional connection … out of all of the retailers in this study.”

In Austin, this certainly explains the enthusiastic reaction to the 2022 announcement that a new H-E-B is slated to open next week on Lake Austin Boulevard.

ECommerce Small Texas Companies Top U.S. Grocery Retailers lists top grocery stores h-e-b