A decade has passed since H-E-B purchased land behind Torchy鈥檚 Tacos on Bonnie Brae Street near University Drive. It鈥檚 a spot where a woman named Mary used to pitch her old yellow tent with dates written in black ink on the outside to help her keep track of important events. She鈥檇 been living on the land for about a year before it sold, finding companionship with her dog Sprocket and her cat Itsy, who鈥檇 seen one too many cat fights.
Mary is gone now after receiving the help she needed from those in the Denton community who cared about her well-being, and the land has remained an empty lot since 2015, despite the .
As years passed, 鈥淲hen will it appear?鈥� turned into 鈥淲hy hasn鈥檛 it appeared?鈥�
A few years ago, H-E-B spokesperson Mabrie Jackson : 鈥淲e often buy real estate in various parts of the state for future needs. H-E-B is a planful company. Bringing new formats and stores to new markets requires time and attention in order to ensure we serve our new customers well.鈥�
In late March, City Council member Brandon Chase McGee, who is seeking reelection, allegedly offered a different reason at a candidate forum in a discussion about food deserts and grocery stores: 鈥渃ouncil infighting.鈥�
鈥淐ouncil Member [Chris] Watts stated that Council Member McGee had spoken with a representative of H.E.B. regarding a Denton location and their concerns with the Denton City Council鈥檚 dynamics and requested the City Manager determine specifics,鈥� staffers wrote in an April 5 staff report. 鈥淲hen asked, Council Member McGee had no comment.鈥�
It became a topic of discussion at the April 16 council meeting.
Mayor Gerard Hudspeth, who鈥檚 seeking reelection, reiterated what Watts had claimed on the dais in early April to council members and the public.
鈥淚 was there, and [McGee鈥檚 claim] happened and a room full of people who can tell you that happened. That鈥檚 not in dispute,鈥� Hudspeth said. 鈥淚 think there is a duty to be transparent to our citizens.鈥�
At the April 16 meeting, Watts pitched an idea that didn鈥檛 move forward to discuss 鈥済uidelines for self-governing of council members who have one-on-one conversations with developers and economic development prospects.鈥�
He claimed it wasn鈥檛 a political ploy and compared it to when council members aren鈥檛 allowed to speak with developers during motions to reconsider after an ordinance passes.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 make the comment,鈥� Watts told council members. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 make it public. But for that, we wouldn鈥檛 be having this conversation. 鈥� Any conversations, especially with the most desired economic development prospect we鈥檝e known for probably decades, is something that needs to be shared. Words matter.鈥�
In an email to the DRC, McGee offered more context behind the comment and claimed Watts鈥� pitch was politically motivated in support of McGee鈥檚 opponent for Place 5, Erica Garland.
鈥淒uring a political forum, I said that the infighting from the dais contributes to why companies like H-E-B are looking elsewhere to do business,鈥� McGee wrote. 鈥淥ne of the things that businesses need to thrive in a community is a stable political environment. While staff noted that I had no comment, I told them that all Council Members are allowed to speak to whomever we want, and we should continue to do so because that鈥檚 why we were elected.鈥�
City Manager Sara Hensley said she spoke with H-E-B to find out if a representative had spoken with McGee.
鈥淣o, he did not meet with them,鈥� Hensley said. 鈥�... Our council would not do anything to dissuade them.鈥�
McGee鈥檚 concern about the council鈥檚 infighting from the dais isn鈥檛 a new one, nor is it something that he has been helping. The council has been divided over hot button issues long before H-E-B purchased the land near Bonnie Brae and University in 2015.
A year before H-E-B鈥檚 purchase, Denton鈥檚 proposed had divided the council and the city.
In fact, infighting from the dais was such a concern that shortly before the city鈥檚 abortion rights resolution passed in late June 2022, Hensley hired a consultant who held a learning-how-to-work-together session at a council retreat to address it.
Although no council members have party affiliations while serving, partisan issues make their way to the dais. It has led to infighting from the dais, especially over issues such as , , and at public facilities.
It鈥檚 unclear why H-E-B representatives would be concerned about infighting from the dais. They only need the council to approve things like a specific use permit or a tax abatement if needed, both issues that the council seems to agree on more than they disagree.
It would make more sense that H-E-B would be waiting on Denton鈥檚 growth to support an outlet or possibly for a better location to become available in Denton.
After all, if they were to build a location off Bonnie Brae near University, it would face stiff competition from Walmart, Sam鈥檚 Club, WinCo, Albertson鈥檚 and Aldi, all within a short drive of each other.
When contacted last week, H-E-B spokesperson Mabrie Jackson was surprised by McGee鈥檚 claim. While she couldn鈥檛 find anyone who spoke with McGee officially, Jackson did send a statement via email to reassure H-E-B fans in Denton.
鈥淗-E-B is very methodical in how and when we enter cities across North Texas,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淲e often buy properties far in advance of future needs. Though we have no date at this time, we look forward to serving the people of Denton in the future.鈥�