H-E-B Sold North San Antonio Land With Restrictions
The grocer sold 7.5 acres while placing a restrictive covenant that bans future grocery use on the property.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Retail
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H-E-B has sold 7.5 acres of land located at the intersection of Canyon Golf Road and East Borgfeld Drive on the far North Side of San Antonio. The deal includes a long-term restrictive covenant that prohibits the site from being used for grocery store operations.
Why it matters
Retailers often utilize restrictive covenants in land sales to protect their existing store territories from future competition. By limiting potential retail use at this site, the company effectively blocks grocery rivals from establishing a presence near its nearby store.
The Bexar Appraisal District values the 7.5-acre site at $3.71 million. The deed limits grocery display areas to 500 square feet or 5% of total floor space for the next 55 years.
The players
H-E-B
The company is a large private grocery chain headquartered in San Antonio with extensive operations across Texas.
Birnbaum Property Co.
This is a real estate firm that serves as the parent or associated entity for the buyer of the North Side land.
The details
The sale to an entity linked to Birnbaum Property Co. mandates that any future convenience store on the land cannot exceed 6,000 square feet. Other limitations permit liquor stores up to 3,000 square feet and card or stationery shops up to 2,500 square feet.
Timeline
2011: H-E-B originally purchased 9.7 acres at the site.
Next 55 years: Development restrictions apply to the sold land.
Market Landscape
Large retailers frequently leverage restrictive covenants to secure their local market share against encroaching rivals. This strategic land management positions H-E-B to protect its established consumer base in the Stone Oak area.
Area residents should not expect a new full-service grocery store to be built at this intersection for the next 55 years. Shoppers will likely continue to rely on the existing H-E-B location in Stone Oak, which is situated 5 miles from the site.
The takeaway
Large retailers often use legal tools like deed restrictions to shape the commercial environment of local neighborhoods. Residents should be aware that these long-term agreements can significantly limit the types of future development on vacant land in their area.
Further reading
For more on the local retail climate, visit Retail.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San Antonio Express-News.
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