New store underscores the company’s commitment to the DFW Metroplex

Furthering its commitment to the DFW Metroplex, H-E-B officially started construction on its Mansfield H-E-B store, which is set to open in spring 2024. At 118,000 square feet, the H-E-B store will showcase all the quality products and innovative services H-E-B customers have come to love and expect.

The Mansfield H-E-B store will be located at the corner of US 287 and Broad Street. H-E-B owns roughly 28 acres at the site. H-E-B Mansfield joins H-E-B Alliance, which is currently under construction and set to open in spring 2024, as the first locations for the company’s flagship format stores in Tarrant County. H-E-B also operates a Central Market location in Fort Worth.

Along with a world class product assortment at H-E-B’s everyday low prices, the store will include a full-service H-E-B Pharmacy with a drive-thru; Texas Backyard department, featuring outdoor essentials; Home by H-E-B home décor department featuring furniture, woven textiles, and accent pieces from the Haven + Key and Texas Proud collections; and a True Texas BBQ restaurant with a drive-thru, which was named best barbecue chain in Texas by Texas Monthly and a top barbecue chain in the nation by Thrillist. The store will also include 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. These exciting digital services will give customers choices on how they shop, pay for, and receive their products.

“We’re extremely excited to strengthen our commitment to the DFW Metroplex with our move into Mansfield,” said Juan-Carlos Rück, H-E-B Executive Vice President North West Food/Drug. “Our H-E-B locations across North Texas continue to stir up great excitement with customers, and this H-E-B store will allow us to answer the long-standing call for an H-E-B in this thriving community.”

Additional store highlights include:

Inside and out, H-E-B designed the store to reflect the character unique to the Mansfield community and emphasized environmental sustainability, incorporating several energy efficient inclusions such as CO2 refrigeration units and LED lighting. The site also features extensive native landscaping.

Building on H-E-B’s longstanding presence in the area with its Central Market stores, the move into Mansfield reinforces the retailer’s commitment to serve more customers in this dynamic and growing part of Texas. Regularly recognized as a top employer in the nation, H-E-B will offer positions that range from department managers to cashiers. H-E-B will post all job opportunities to its H-E-B Careers site in the coming months. It’s expected that the Mansfield store will employ approximately 700 Partners (employees).

“The Mansfield community welcomes H-E-B as a partner and advocate for quality service and world class standards of operation,” said Mansfield Mayor Michael Evans. “Our residents will be the recipients of top-quality grocery and produce, and we are excited about their presence in our city.”

Through its Spirit of Giving philosophy, H-E-B is passionately dedicated to its customers beyond its stores. In this spirit, H-E-B invested $50,000 in community organizations serving the Mansfield area to commemorate the groundbreaking ceremony. H-E-B gifted $10,000 each to Mansfield Women’s Club, Erma Nash Elementary, Willie Brown Academy, Urban Truth, and The LOT Downtown. These donations build on H-E-B’s support of more than 100 non-profit organizations and public schools in the DFW Metroplex.

A proud Texas company, H-E-B’s presence in the Metroplex runs deep. H-E-B has served the broader community for two decades with its innovative Central Market stores, which were introduced to the DFW area in 2001 and grew to serve customers in Dallas, Plano, Southlake, and Fort Worth. H-E-B stores also serve communities near the Metroplex including Burleson, Hudson Oaks, Granbury, and Waxahachie.

The largest privately held employer in Texas, H-E-B has more than 430 stores and 154,000 Partners in Texas and Mexico, and the retailer continues to be an economic driver as it expands in North Texas and other areas of the state. As a multi-format retailer, H-E-B operates Central Market stores throughout Texas, as well as Joe V’s Smart Shop and Mi Tienda store formats in Houston. H-E-B also owns Favor Delivery, a fast and convenient delivery service that serves cities across the state.

Mansfield City Council members will receive a pay raise under the city’s 2024 budget.

The change comes months after city council members took heat for an alleged lack of transparency in receiving payments for their service.

In February, the council voted to give its members $1,000-a-month payments for their work as elected officials. That number increased to $2,000-a-month Monday night when Mansfield officials passed the city’s budget.

City code in Mansfield has allowed council members to accept pay for their work since 1979. Officials were not successful in getting council members to accept payments until earlier this year, city manager Joe Smolinski said in February when payments were first approved.

At the time, officials denied claims from residents about the payment passage not being transparent, and said they followed proper procedures when deciding to pay council members.

“To say they don’t give anything up, nonsense,” Smolinksi during a February council meeting. “To say that they make too much money, just nonsense. To say there’s a lack of transparency is nonsense.”

Though the city council only meets twice a month, council members in Mansfield often do work beyond those meeting hours, Smolinski wrote in an emailed statement Wednesday.

“I recommended this stipend because, while it cannot replace the revenue and family time, for a large segment of our population it may make serving on City Council at least possible to dedicate the countless hours it takes to do this job to the level Mansfield deserves,” Smolinski wrote.

Other Tarrant County cities of comparable size to Mansfield like Keller, Bedford and Euless do not pay their city council members. North Richland Hills council members are paid $50 per meeting.

Pay debates for council members have taken place across the county.

Voters turned down a request from Fort Worth’s council members and mayor to raise their pay during the May 2022 elections. Had raises passed, council members’ pay would have gone from $25,000 to $76,727 a year. Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker’s pay would have increased from $29,000 to $99,653.

Arlington’s city council members and Mayor Jim Ross are paid $2,400 and $3,000 a year, respectively, for their duties.

Arlington’s council turned down the opportunity to be paid more in September 2021 even after claims swirled about more people being willing to participate in local government if there were raises.

Mansfield city council members did not ask for the pay raises, Mayor Michael Evans told the Star-Telegram on Wednesday, but they appreciate the city manager, staff and others in the community who have supported the council’s work.

Several council members told the Star-Telegram in February that they gave their council pay to charity. Evans previously said he gives the money to his church, Bethlehem Baptist.

When asked if his extra $1,000 a month would go to charity, Evans said all the money he and his wife bring in ends up in the same pot. The family gives around $50,000 a year to charity, he said.

MANSFIELD, Texas - It was a special first day of school for a Ukrainian family now living in North Texas.

The Mansfield Independent School District welcomed back three students from the Zhakun family following their escape from the war in Ukraine.

MORE: Russia-Ukraine News

Vitalik and Lyuba Zhakun, along with their six children, fled from the war-torn country last fall. They settled in Mansfield because of connections through a local Ukrainian church.

Since then, the community has pulled together to support them.

Their family’s unique story involves the war between Russia and their home country of Ukraine.

The children accompanied their parents Wednesday morning to share publicly, through an interpreter, how they fled Ukraine to escape the Russian invasion.

"When they made the decision to change the country and bring the whole family here, he was so worried as a father, as the head of the family, how it was going to be. What am I going to do? Will I be able to provide? And if he knew ahead of time how wonderful these people would be, the community and how they would extend their arms and have all of them, he would not worry as much as he was at the beginning," Vitalik Zhakun's translator said.

"He is relieved now because they can sleep quietly, and they can get an education. And so he is so appreciative. The whole family is so appreciative to the principal and librarian and teachers and every single person who supported them, and he feels so much relief now because his kids are in a safe situation. And they can raise them and think about their future," the translator added.

The school district’s bond with the Zhakun family began when they first arrived in late 2022.

"The little village they lived in with his children that go to school here had just become so war-torn and violent, he just decided if my lineage, my life, is going to go on, I have to get out of here," Tarver Rendon Agricultural Leadership Academy principal Jamie Norwood said.

The elementary school’s principal and librarian have been key connectors, spearheading community efforts to help with everything from clothing to furniture and groceries.

"People from all over the district just, we have bunk beds, we have a refrigerator, because they literally came with the clothes on their back and their documentation," Norwood said.

Mansfield ISD welcomes Ukrainian students on first day

Mansfield ISD welcomes Ukrainian students on first day

It's a special first day of school for one family in North Texas. Mansfield ISD is welcoming the students whose family escaped the war in Ukraine.

"I went over and sat in their living room at their computer and we went through all of the forms together, and we made sure all of their meal information was updated and their bus services were registered," librarian Chelsea Bledsoe said.

At Tarver Rendon, two of the sisters, who are in 4th and 2nd grades, guided their brother, who is in kindergarten. All have found new friends who are helping them.

"They would help them get their lunch, show them where the pencils are. The student would sit next to them and they’d kind of mimic what they’re doing," Norwood said. "It just kind of naturally occurred. They weren’t assigned to them, it just happened."

Mansfield ISD said the outpouring of support and coordination of resources reflects the theme for this school year – Stronger Together.

Families are encouraged to have conversations with their children about welcoming others.

Mansfield is experiencing a surge in development as the city continues to see rapid population growth. The projects range from a proposed film production studio to new apartments and retail stores.

Dallas-based Wildcat Management’s $150 million Castle Ranch mixed-use development is the latest addition to the projects underway or announced in the fast-growing North Texas city.

According to the woman-owned commercial real estate firm, the development will feature multifamily units, townhomes, retail, and live/work spaces connected by walkable streets, sidewalks, and pedestrian paths.

Wildcat Management says the company has teamed up with local officials and area stakeholders to improve the western side of Mansfield and enhance the value of the city.

Castle Ranch will create a new district that connects to the city’s trail system, an adjacent dog park, and a city park that received taxpayer approval in November 2022, the firm said in a news release. The project— located near major highways I-20 and Hwy 287 — is built on one of the largest contiguous parcels in Mansfield and will be within walking distance to downtown, shopping, restaurants, and entertainment.

The upcoming Castle Ranch project is expected to break ground in 2024.

Wildcat Management owner Tanya Ragan says she’s expanding her company’s “pawprint” in the region.

“I am excited about the opportunity to apply Wildcat’s years of community building and urban renewal experience in downtown Dallas toward Mansfield’s visionary efforts,” Ragan said in a statement. “Our public-private partnership will yield benefits to generations of Mansfield’s citizens.”

Adding to the growing list of projects in Mansfield, the city announced plans in January to create The Mansfield Innovation Community, also known as “The MIC.” The project, in partnership with Admiral Legacy Investments, will be part of the planned Mansfield Innovation Corridor and will occupy 18 acres of land at Heritage and Regency Parkways, with one million square feet of master-planned community slated to be developed in phases.

The MIC will feature collaborative spaces, retail, corporate residence, parks, trails, education, an innovation hub, and corporate headquarters. The project is slated to break ground in spring 2024, with Phase 1 scheduled to open by Summer 2025.

The new developments are evidence of Mansfield’s growing appeal as a desirable location for investment and development.

Beyond Wildcat Management’s project and the plans for the MIC innovation district, Dallas-based real estate firm Leon Capital has submitted plans for The Revel, a $46.5 million multi-building apartment complex that’s set to break ground later this year and deliver in 2025.

The Revel will occupy 396,000 square feet and include two four-story apartment buildings, three buildings with three stories, and a two-story clubhouse. Meanwhile, the mixed-use Chisholm Flats development, which features 800-1,000 multifamily units, medical office space, hotels, and restaurant and retail space, is already in the works.

Mansfield is south of Arlington and has a population that’s risen from 28,000 in 2000 to 74,000 today, and major companies like H-E-B are taking notice. The grocer recently unveiled plans for a new store in Mansfield, adding to the town’s growing list of commercial and residential projects.

In addition to the flurry of real estate development activity, Mansfield has set its sights on becoming a hub for film production, with plans to break ground this year on Mansfield Super Studios, a film production studio to be built on 72 acres of undeveloped land. In addition to a cluster of five studios, the $70-million project envisions restaurants, a hotel, and retail space. The mini-Hollywood aims to attract streaming services and major productions to the area, such as Taylor Sheridan’s hit series “Yellowstone” and “1883,” filmed in the Fort Worth area.

Mayor Michael Evans has touted the studio project as “movie magic” that will benefit not only Mansfield but also the entire state of Texas.

Quincy Preston contributed to this report.

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A new mixed-use development including roughly 60,000 square feet of Class A office space will soon break ground in Mansfield.

Known as Heritage Park, the project will also bring an upscale 125-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel, 20,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and medical office space as well as parks and civic areas. Located along Heritage Parkway and Highway 287, the project is expected to break ground by 2024, according to a news release.

Heath-based master developer 1ONEFirm Inc. and hotel developer Tekmak Development are behind the project. The developers envision Heritage Park as a vibrant, walkable mixed-use district that will encompass office spaces, retail outlets, residential properties, hospitality options and entertainment venues.

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“We couldn’t be more excited about Heritage Park,” Brian Berry, CEO and partner at 1ONEFirm Inc., said in a prepared statement. “We asked Jason Moore, executive director of MEDC, as well as City Manager Joe Smolinski what was most desired and needed on this stretch of U.S. Highway 287 and the answers were essentially identical; a place for the large corporations [that] desire to relocate to Mansfield to house their operations in a multi-story Class A+ office building and to bring the highest level hotel that we could to support the office and retail components, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

1ONEFirm has recently completed projects such as The South Ridge Development in Heath, an outdoor entertainment, restaurant, retail and office complex. Tekmak Development is a full-service hospitality development company.

“We are honored to be the hotel developer selected by 1ONEFirm and the City of Mansfield to deliver a custom Courtyard by Marriott to Mansfield,” Tom Kirkland, CEO at Tekmak Development, said in a prepared statement.

The project will create an anticipated 250 jobs as well as bring an estimated $70 million value in ad-valorem during the first phase.

"This development is a testament to the continued growth and vibrancy of Mansfield,” Mayor Michael Evans said in a prepared statement. “Heritage Park will not only enhance our city's economic strength but will also provide our residents with new opportunities for leisure and entertainment. We are thrilled to welcome this transformative project to our community."

Mansfield has seen a slate of new developments recently.

In July, developers unveiled a $68 million multifamily project in the city. The forthcoming development, dubbed the Alexander, will bring 388 units. Located at 1725 East Broad Street, the project will break ground later this year and should deliver by 2025, according to a filing with the state.

The Alexander will total about 654,000 square feet. The development will come with two pool courtyards and amenity spaces.

Recently, High Five Entertainment proposed a 45,000 square feet venue that would include bowling, laser tag, arcades, bars, restaurants and other family entertainment across a two-story campus in Mansfield.

Some of that “other family entertainment” may include ax throwing and escape rooms, according to city documents.

Earlier this month, a developer unveiled a $60 million mixed-use project in Mansfield.

Located south of the Julian apartment development near Toll Road 360, the project would feature multi-family residential, rowhouse, neighborhood-oriented commercial and civic space. Dubbed the Campbell Development, the site aims to create a mixed-use destination that is focused on distinct architecture and complimentary amenities, according to city documents.

North Texas Economic Development Agencies

Value of deals 2021

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