Central Market: When Fort Worth became a foodie town

Central Market: When Fort Worth became a foodie town

Published on February 16, 2026

Picture it: A sea of people gathered nearly elbow to elbow. Excited voices ring in the crisp morning air. Brightly colored streamers dance in the wind. The energy is electric - like something out of a movie.

With this level of excitement - starstruck fans, giddy with anticipation - you'd think a big celebrity had landed in town. And, in a sense, one had. But this wasn't a star of the Hollywood type.

And this wasn't just any old Thursday in October 2001. It was the day that flipped the script - and changed the city's taste buds forever.

Grocery shopping goes gourmet

Although many in the crowd had never stepped foot inside a store of its kind, a lot of folks were familiar with the legend and the myth that was Central Market.

A division of H-E-B, Central Market debuted in 1994 in Austin as an alternative to a "typical" grocery store. Paying homage to European markets, it was as much a feast for the senses as it was for the stomach. The design featured bright colors, bold signage and a layout that led guests on an "immersive sensory food adventure," describes its website.

About that food. Think meat and potatoes turned on its head. Central Market offered a cut above the standard fare that filled Austinites' plates. Premium tastes collided with textures, cultures and cuisines. There was nothing else quite like the place.

And Fort Worth wanted a bite of it.

Driving miles for aisles

When word of this food-lover's utopia spread to Cowtown, budding foodies did what budding foodies had to do: They stashed their coolers in the car and headed 200 miles south.

The long trek was a no-brainer for those who'd caught the Central Market bug. Aficionados rolled through the aisles, grabbing goodies galore until their carts towered with treasures. The cheese section alone was legendary, with hundreds of artisan items sourced from around the world. (Words like "Gruyère," "Manchego" and "Burrata" were fast becoming household names.)

Driving to Austin wasn't the end of the world. But having our own shoppers' paradise here at home? That thought alone made Fort Worthians drool.

A fever dream becomes reality

In 1999, H-E-B's real estate team identified the corner of I-30 West and Hulen Street as an ideal site for Central Market's first store of any format in the DFW area, said Stephen Butt, H-E-B president of shareholder relations. Butt's great-grandmother, Florence Butt, started the company in 1905.

"The Chapel Hill Shopping Center was being planned, and we could see this would be a great location for serving the west side of Fort Worth for many years to come," Butt said. "The lease for our Central Market at Hulen and I-30W became H-E-B's first real estate deal of any type in the Fort Worth/Dallas Metroplex."

Momentum built as opening day neared. Lucky folks who lived in nearby neighborhoods within a certain radius received a special gift - a reusable Central Market tote bag hanging on their doorknobs with an invitation inside. Bring your bag to opening day, and we'll fill it with a bunch of our signature products for free.

Dream unlocked.

Rolling out the red carpet

The doors officially opened on Oct. 11, 2001 - just four weeks after Sept. 11.

"There was a lot of apprehension in the air about large crowds gathering for major public events," Butt recalled. "Mayor Barr, who was to cut the grand-opening ribbon, had been called to an emergency mayors' meeting in Washington, D.C. City Councilman Jeff Wentworth was a gracious stand-in for Mayor Barr, joining H-E-B executives to cut the ribbon."

The Fort Worth Police Department Mounted Patrol, Texas Boys Choir and author/restauranteur Lidia Bastianich participated in the morning's ceremonies. Central Market's "good friend" Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel performed on the patio that evening (in a major rainstorm, no less), Butt said.

"A mockup of a stoplight was used for the countdown to the opening," he said. "Red (wait), yellow (get ready), then green for go shopping!"

In true Fort Worth style, Butt said, two cowboys rode up on horseback at one point during opening weekend and asked if Central Market had a hitching post where they could tie up their mounts.

Chef's kiss

Fun awaited the first guests at Central Market Fort Worth, many of whom waited two hours to step inside. (Fire codes prohibited throngs from entering en masse.) Sample stations offering tasty treats stood sentry across the store: cheeses, breads, olives, dips, meats, sweets and spreads - you name it. And, of course, those tote bags, which got fatter as each lucky recipient collected freebies throughout the store.

"Everyone had a grand ol' time," Butt said.

A star is born

Oct. 11, 2001, was the day our palates became palettes - colorful, vibrant, artistic and ready to try all sorts of new and delicious things.

After that glorious event, grocery-getting in the 817 was never the same. Central Market introduced Fort Worth to foods and ingredients we'd never heard of or tasted before. Our collective response: "Bon appétit, y'all!"

We had, in fact, become a foodie town.

It can be argued that Fort Worth's Central Market was the catalyst that made us what we are today: a city rife with locally owned eateries and steeped in cuisines of all kinds. Both our home kitchens and our restaurant scene today rank among the best of the best.

Thanks for setting down roots in Fort Worth, Central Market. You've got great taste.

Food for thought: A few cool shareables from H-E-B's Stephen Butt

Customer petition - "We want Central Market!"

"The west side of Fort Worth had come up on our radar a few years earlier, as we had received a 'customer petition' with several hundred signatures requesting a Central Market be built at Hulen and Bellaire, which later became the Tom Thumb that operates at that location today.

"We later learned that two loyal, long-standing customers, Rushie and David Simpson, were instrumental in organizing this customer petition. Rushie and David have been multiple-times-per-week Central Market shoppers for many, many years. (Unfortunately, Rushie passed several years ago, but David continues to shop with us today)."

Roasting Hatch chilies in the parking lot

"Two weeks before opening, we started roasting Hatch chile peppers in the parking lot - one single roaster and we would give away these tasty, hot chilies from Hatch, New Mexico. People would drive up and we would give them a small bag. Those who knew these chilies were amazed that we were passing them out; those that had never tried one were hooked right away!

Blending culture and cuisine with local flavors

"Over the 25 years which Central Market-Fort Worth has operated, we've made a few fun additions along the way: Respected Texas artist Malu Flato created the original ceramic tiles located at the front of the store which depict the Will Rogers Coliseum. And in 2013, Fort Worth artist Cindy Holt was commissioned to create a trilogy of three murals in the cafe seating area, 'A River Runs Through It,' which depict daily life along the Trinity River.

"Central Market's popular Cooking School classes have featured nationally recognized chefs Virginia Willis, Martin Yan and Stephanie Izard, as well as local restauranteurs Tim Love, Jon Bonnell, Molly McCook, Bernard Tronche, Lou Lambert and Louise Lamensdorf, among many others."

Music for the senses

"Live music 'on the patio' at Central Market-Fort Worth has also been a popular gathering place on weekends and evenings. Local favorites including Kinky Friedman, Billy Joe Shaver, Johnny Reno and Carly Jo Jackson have drawn crowds of their fans to Central Market for many, many years. A young Maren Morris performed on Central Market's patio long before she hit it big!"

Kudos to Cowtown

"A big thank-you to all of our Fort Worth friends!!"

- Stephen Butt and the Central Market team

The opening-day crowd eagerly awaits the green light to go shopping!

Fort Worth Mounted Patrol officers and their trusty steeds.

The countdown continues! (Note the famous tote bag on shoppers' shoulders.)

The Texas Boys Choir is all smiles on this much-anticipated day.

All photos courtesy of Central Market.

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