Kroger celebrated the groundbreaking Oct. 29 of its newest Kroger Marketplace store in Hockley, Texas, a $41 million investment marking the company’s first new store in the Houston area in 10 years. The nearly 100,000-square-foot store off Betka Road is expected to open in early 2028 and bring more than 200 jobs to Houston’s fast-growing northwest corridor.
“As Hockley continues to experience remarkable growth, we are proud to expand our footprint and serve the evolving needs of this community,” said Rudy DiPietro, president of Kroger’s Texas Division. “This new Marketplace store will provide customers with greater access to fresh, affordable food, convenient services and an exceptional shopping experience, all while supporting the long-term growth of the area.”
Kroger Marketplace stores are multi-department stores offering a full-service grocery store and pharmacy along with an expanded assortment of general merchandise, from fresh produce, meat and seafood to household essentials and seasonal items.
Built on roughly 11 acres, the store will anchor a larger retail development of about 38 acres, with additional small-shop space and future pad sites for restaurants, retailers and service providers. Additional details will be shared closer to opening.
The Kroger Texas Division includes more than 207 stores in Texas and Louisiana with more than 26,000 associates.
The groundbreaking comes a week after Kroger told investors it plans approximately 110 new stores in high-growth markets by 2029, acknowledging it had under-built as competitors expanded.