By Edmond Ortiz
A pre-Memorial Day edition of Business Briefs shows that three major companies have big plans for San Antonio and beyond.
Also, Marriott is gearing up to formally debut its new downtown Residence Inn hotel, and a historic New Braunfels hotel is back open.
H-E-B
Grocer H-E-B announced May 20 that it is launching a $700 million initiative to expand its supply chain operations, a project that the locally based retailer expects to create 720 jobs by 2028, and more than 1,200 new full-time jobs over the next decade.
Company officials indicate that H-E-B’s Foster Road campus, north of Highway 87, is a potential location for the expansion, which could include construction of a state-of-the-art bakery, a refrigerated warehouse, a transportation building, and an expansion of its existing manufacturing plant.
According to a press release, the potential East Side-based expansion will support H-E-B’s existing operations, and complement the retailer’s burgeoning supply chain operations. H-E-B officials call the project the company’s largest investment in its manufacturing and supply-chain division and could be among the largest industrial investments in the San Antonio area if the initiative comes to fruition.
Company representatives said while the project is still in planning stages, construction could begin later this year. Facilities are tentatively slated to become operational as early as 2028, with an initial placement of 700-plus new full-time jobs. An additional 500 full-time positions are expected at the expansion site by 2038.
H-E-B bought the 870-acre Foster Road property in 2018 with an eye toward future growth. The grocer has since invested more than $445 million at the site, including the addition of a 2 million-square-foot warehouse and manufacturing plant. H-E-B presently has nearly 1,400 employees at the East Side campus, with the potential of growing its total financial investment there to more than $1 billion.
“We look forward to advancing our plans to grow our supply chain operations, a project that reaffirms our commitment to be an economic engine for our great state,” Carson Landsgard, H-E-B chief supply chain officer, said in a statement. “While we are still developing our plans, this will be a major investment for H-E-B that will create jobs and better position us to serve even more Texans.”
Toyota
Recent filings with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts show Toyota Motor Corp. wants to grow its local operational footprint and add a $2 billion assembly line next to its existing South Side facility.
If approved by the state, Toyota will proceed with plans to start construction of the new assembly plant before the end of this decade. The company expects to begin producing vehicles on the new assembly line in 2030.
The automaker plans to add up to 2,000 new jobs between 2028 and 2030 to support the new plant, with salaries averaging more than $88,000.
Toyota is seeking local and state economic and workforce development incentives, including tax breaks from the city of San Antonio and Bexar County. The automaker is also requesting nearly $37 million in loans or grants from various entities.
Toyota Texas’ current 2.2-million-square-foot facility currently assembles vehicles such as the Tundra pickup truck and the Sequoia sport utility vehicle.
Toyota is already expanding its existing South Side plant – a $531 million initiative called Project Iceberg that features a 500,000-square-foot facility devoted to rear-axle assembly and drivetrain components.
XPEL
XPEL, a locally based protective films and coatings producer, recently announced a $110 million investment that includes the purchase of a 435,000-square-foot, four-building site in east San Antonio, and the acquisition of a manufacturing facility in China.
According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, XPEL bought its San Antonio storage, fabrication and warehouse complex and adjacent properties for $60.4 million.
Company representatives said they will consolidate functions and staff at another leased operations facility into the recently acquired San Antonio property, making the latter site the main hub of its North American manufacturing and operations. XPEL plans to occupy 230,000 square feet of the newly purchased site, and lease out the rest of the space, which could be considered for potential future expansion opportunities.
In China, XPEL bought a manufacturing complex to support customers there, as the company moves to strengthen its footprint in one of the world’s biggest automotive markets.
Ryan Pape, XPEL’s president and CEO, said the company is dedicated to growing from its San Antonio base of operations.
“San Antonio has been XPEL’s home for more than two decades, and we’re proud to make a long-term commitment of this scale to our employees and to the city,” Pape said in a statement. “This (East Side) site gives us the space to consolidate, the room to grow our in-house manufacturing capabilities, and the flexibility to adapt as our needs evolve. It’s the right footprint for the next phase of the business.”
Residence Inn by Marriott
A new downtown hotel, Residence Inn by Marriott San Antonio Riverwalk, is now taking reservations for stays beginning this August.
According to a press release, the 171-suite, 10-story hotel features studio and one-bedroom accommodations with full kitchens, separate living and working spaces, and an array of layouts designed to accommodate quick visits and longer stays.
“San Antonio is seeing strong demand from both business and leisure travelers, and at Residence Inn by Marriott San Antonio Riverwalk, we’re really designed to meet that,” Corina Lathan, general manager of Residence Inn by Marriott San Antonio Riverwalk , said in a statement.
“With spacious suites, fully equipped kitchens, flexible workspaces, and a walkable downtown location, we’re focused on giving guests a comfortable home base where they can settle in and experience the city with ease.”
Faust Hotel
Faust Hotel, known for its yellow-brick facade and downtown New Braunfels location, formally reopened its doors to guests May 19 following a full makeover that began after the hotel’s closure in late 2023.
While preservation was an aim for the owners of the nearly century-old hotel, the four-story structure underwent a $4.5 million renovation that included a reimagining of the 45 guest rooms, with new furnishings and paint jobs, a lobby facelift, and such enhancements as double-paned windows that serve as sound buffers.
The Faust Hotel also offers a revamped food and beverage program. Wilhelm & Werner is the hotel’s signature restaurant, a European-inspired Texas brasserie that offers indoor and outdoor seating for lunch and dinner, and a full bar. The menu features heritage wild boar shank, pan-roasted Gulf snapper, and Harissa marinated quail. The bar offers signature craft cocktails, wine and beer.
The refreshed Magnolia Patio boasts craft cocktails, light bites, with live music events taking place Thursday through Sunday. Walter’s Speakeasy offers private pours and exclusive tastings in invitation-only atmosphere. The restored hotel ballroom can accommodate an array of celebrations and events.
