Minds, mouths open at Central Market

The Central Market Cooking Schools offer a wide variety of classes with topics that include Cool and Easy Vietnamese, Summer Suppers, Sassy Seafood, Couples Cook, Modern Moroccan and Knife Skills 101.

In 1992, Charles Butt bought some property in Austin with the goal of turning grocery shopping into a fun and enjoyable experience.

He and John Campbell, who spent 30 years at HEB, had a vision: Offer a wide variety of foods never before offered in Texas.

HEB opened the first Central Market in Austin in 1994, and it was dubbed "an amusement park for food lovers." The Houston store opened in 2001, and it's been catering to customers ever since.


ADDRESS: 3815 Westheimer, Houston
HOURS: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
PHONE: 713-386-1700
WEBSITE: centralmarket.com
OPERATOR: HEB, Central Market Division
WHAT YOU'LL FIND: Central Market advises its customers to "Chew With Your Mind Open." Why, you may ask? This store offers more than 700 types of cheeses, 2,500 wine labels, hundreds of types of seafood and true Texas meats, fresh organic foods, peak-season vegetables and so much more. After you get your mind wrapped around that, add this to the mix: There's also a bakery, floral and gift center, cooking classes and live music.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "Look, I'm just a regular guy who likes to eat. I'll try anything once. That's the beauty of Central Market. They have everything." — Aaron M., Houston, yelp.com