Interesting HEB in Lincoln Heights (San Antonio) - former 90's Albertsons

[architect]

Earlier today, I discovered an eclectic HEB location in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of San Antonio. Based on Yelp/Foursquare photos, this store was clearly a former Albertsons Superstore which has been extensively renovated. In a rarity for HEB, this store looks particularly drab due to the original lighting being replaced by hanging fixtures which leave the ceiling above very dark (especially over the checkouts). In addition, it appears that the store was expanded to the west after HEB took over, as evidenced by Google Earth historic imagery. It is interesting to see HEB's take on this space, as Publix has also acquired and renovated several of these former Superstores, but in a manner which makes them feel bright and almost sterile. On the other hand, HEB's approach seems more reminiscent of an early Safeway Lifestyle remodel, with dark lighting and earth tones.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/h-e-b-san-antonio-60

[pseudo3d]

Earlier today, I discovered an eclectic HEB location in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of San Antonio. Based on Yelp/Foursquare photos, this store was clearly a former Albertsons Superstore which has been extensively renovated. In a rarity for HEB, this store looks particularly drab due to the original lighting being replaced by hanging fixtures which leave the ceiling above very dark (especially over the checkouts). In addition, it appears that the store was expanded to the west after HEB took over, as evidenced by Google Earth historic imagery. It is interesting to see HEB's take on this space, as Publix has also acquired and renovated several of these former Superstores, but in a manner which makes them feel bright and almost sterile. On the other hand, HEB's approach seems more reminiscent of an early Safeway Lifestyle remodel, with dark lighting and earth tones.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/h-e-b-san-antonio-60

Are you sure the original lighting was changed? This page here (scroll down past HTML junk) shows an Albertsons with hanging light fixtures not too much unlike what you're seeing there.

[storewanderer]

The HEB definitely had lights changed as it's a pre summer 1995 Albertsons. I can tell that by the odd glass above the checkout area. Those just had standard old tube lights throughout. Those also had drop ceilings.

The store on the page with all of the HTML style stuff is a store opened after 1999.

[architect]

The HEB definitely had lights changed as it's a pre summer 1995 Albertsons. I can tell that by the odd glass above the checkout area. Those just had standard old tube lights throughout. Those also had drop ceilings.

The store on the page with all of the HTML style stuff is a store opened after 1999.

Similar lighting was actually used by HEB for the drop-ceiling portion of the Westlake Market store in Austin (another former Albertsons). In that store, it works well because it is just used to illuminate the center-store aisles, with the perimeter utilizing a warehouse ceiling. Somehow, the Lincoln Heights store just seems particularly dark.