Lufkin grocer: Concert hall opens inside supermarket

Residents of Lufkin, Texas, will have a new option for evening entertainment and daily errands when Brookshire Brothers opens its latest store on November 11. The location at 2110 S. First St. is designed to function as both a standard grocery market and an entertainment hub. This dual purpose means shoppers can access fresh food and local events under one roof without leaving the complex.

The centerpiece of the new facility is the Pineywoods Pavilion, an indoor venue with a capacity of 1,000 people. The company stated that the space includes a 20-foot television screen, a dance floor, a playground, and a premium sound system. Brookshire Brothers plans to schedule concerts, movie screenings, and other community gatherings in this area. Melissa Crager, the company's manager of public relations and corporate responsibility, described the space as a place for friends and family to spend time together.

Beyond the event space, the store includes several service-oriented amenities. A bar will offer 16 rotating beers and wine, with happy-hour discounts available from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. The complex also features a drive-thru coffee shop, a drive-thru pharmacy, and a meat market that smokes jerky on site. Standard grocery sections remain available for customers who are there for routine shopping.

Lufkin has a population of approximately 34,000 and sits 120 miles northeast of Houston. The city already hosts cultural sites such as the Ellen Trout Zoo and the Museum of East Texas. However, it has lacked a large outdoor entertainment venue until now. This gap in the local infrastructure appears to be the primary driver for the unique design of the new supermarket complex.

Brookshire Brothers traces its roots to 1921 when brothers Austin and Tom Brookshire started the business in Lufkin. The company operated with a cooperative structure involving local friends and family members. In 1929, other family members split off to create Brookshire Grocery Company in Tyler. Since then, Brookshire Brothers has expanded across East Texas and into Western Louisiana. The chain now operates more than 100 stores.

John Alston, the company's CEO, said the new store reflects a continued confidence in the local market. He noted that the project expands shopping options while creating new opportunities for community engagement. The company has served Lufkin for more than 100 years, and this opening marks its latest physical expansion in its home city.