Attention, Shoppers

H-E-B unveils opening date for long-awaited store in Murphy

H-E-B is on the way to Murphy.

Photo courtesy of H-E-B

The wait is nearly over in Murphy: H-E-B has revealed the opening date of its forthcoming store at FM 544 and McCreary Road. That date is Wednesday, July 22, according to a release.

Per tradition, the grand opening events will start at 6 am and will feature company executives along with city officials, community leaders, and area nonprofits to celebrate the occasion, they say.

Having broken ground in 2024, the Murphy store will be a hot spot in fast-growing Collin County. It's the latest in the San Antonio-based grocer's march across Dallas-Fort Worth and follows the opening of the H-E-B Irving store on June 17.

The Murphy store will include a full-service H-E-B Pharmacy with a drive-thru, True Texas BBQ restaurant, and H-E-B Curbside and Home Delivery, which will allow customers to place orders online for pickup at the store or delivery to the home. The location also will have a fuel station with car wash.

The store went on a hiring spree earlier this spring; now they're getting trained and ready to open the doors to customers.

H-E-B has been in rapid expansion mode across DFW in recent years; many stores, including Dallas, Denton, and Carrollton, are in the works.

The regional supermarket chain is consistently rated among America's best grocers by industry and consumer reports.

With $49.6 billion in annual revenue, the H-E-B grocery chain appears at No. 11 on Forbes' inaugural list of America’s 100 largest family businesses.

Founded in 1905, H-E-B operates more than 450 grocery stores in the U.S. and Mexico. The company says its annual sales exceed $50 billion. The company employs over 175,000 Partners in Texas and Mexico, and serves millions of customers in more than 300 communities.

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State Fair Fare

State Fair of Texas reveals 4 winners of 2026 Big Tex Choice Awards

Photo courtesy of State Fair of Texas

Berry Me in Matcha cheesecake, winner for Most Creative at the 2026 Big Tex Choice Awards.

After a lengthy session on August 18 involving about 30 celebrity judges, the State Fair of Texas has officially unveiled the winners of its 22nd annual Big Tex Choice Awards.

The judges (include CultureMap's Alex Bentley) tasted and evaluated sample sizes of 15 finalists, five each from the categories of "Savory," "Sweet," and "Sipper." Each of the winners were evaluated on four criteria: Taste, Value for the Price, Presentation, and Creativity.

Without further delay, here are the big winners, with photos, descriptions, and prices of each creation to help you make your Fair food plan:

Best Taste - Savory: Burger Chop Tater Tacos by Tom Grace

Burger Chop Tater Tacos, winner of the Savory category at the 2026 Big Tex Choice Awards.Photo courtesy of State Fair of Texas

The tacos feature a shell of cheddar cheese and tater tots that are mashed together and fried. It is then filled with a fresh burger patty chopped and combined with sautéed onions and jalapeños, and topped by buffalo buttermilk ranch coleslaw and garlic parmesan buffalo sauce.

The Burger Chop Tater Tacos will be available for $16 for fairgoers.

Best Taste - Sweet: Fletcher's Chocolate Corny Dog by Beck Fletcher

Fletcher's Chocolate Corny Dog, winner of the Sweet category at the 2026 Big Tex Choice AwardsPhoto courtesy of State Fair of Texas

The Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Dog consists of milk chocolate fudge hand dipped in Fletcher’s famous Original Corny Dog batter and deep fried until golden perfection. It is topped with a drizzle of yellow vanilla icing (meant to mimic mustard) and served with raspberry compote (meant to mimic ketchup).

The Fletcher's Chocolate Corny Dog will be the deal among the winners, priced at only $7.

Best Taste - Sipper: Tropical Coco Fresca by Fruteria Cano

Tropical Coca Fresca, winner of the Sippers category at the 2026 Big Tex Choice AwardsPhoto courtesy of State Fair of Texas

The Tropical Coco Fresca is a layered pineapple-watermelon agua fresca with chamoy lava Tajin rim, paired with a scoop of icy coconut snow that melts into a creamy tropical explosion of flavors. The drink will go for $12.

Most Creative: Berry Me in Matcha by Stephen El Gidi (pictured, above).

The sweet treat features a New York-style cheesecake hand-dipped in Belgian white chocolate, rolled in crushed matcha cookies, drizzled with white chocolate and sweet strawberry jam, and finished with a fresh strawberry slice on top.

Priced at a relatively expensive $15, it may be the sweet indulgence that fairgoers choose to share.

The State Fair of Texas will run September 25-October 18, giving people plenty of time to try out these winners and the multitude of other food options the event has to offer.

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