Nearly 100-year-old Texas supermarket chain is closing its last store

For generations of Rio Grande Valley families, a trip to M. Rivas Supermarket was more than just a grocery run. It was a neighborhood tradition built on familiar faces, affordable prices, and a strong sense of community. Now, after nearly a century in business, that chapter is coming to an end.

Family-owned chain closing its final store

M. Rivas Supermarket announced that it would permanently close its last remaining location in Pharr, Texas, at the end of June. The family shared the news in a heartfelt message to customers, saying it had made the “difficult decision” after serving the Rio Grande Valley for nearly 100 years. 

The grocery chain was founded in the 1930s by Magin Rivas and eventually grew to nine stores across Hidalgo County. Over the decades, locations in communities such as Edinburg and South McAllen became staples for local shoppers before the company gradually downsized to a single store. 

A neighborhood institution

Long before national chains dominated the grocery business, M. Rivas earned a loyal following by offering fresh meat, locally grown produce, and personalized service. Employees often knew customers by name, and the store became known for its bilingual service and close ties to the community.

Residents also remembered the supermarket for extending credit tabs to trusted customers, reflecting the family-owned business’s emphasis on relationships rather than transactions. 

End of an era

In its farewell message, the Rivas family thanked generations of customers for their support, saying everyone who walked through the doors became “part of the history and heart of this business.” The announcement prompted an outpouring of memories from longtime shoppers who described the closure as the end of an era for the Rio Grande Valley. 

While Texas continues to see growth from major grocery chains, the closure of M. Rivas Supermarket marks the loss of one of South Texas’ longest-running independent grocers and a reminder of how difficult it has become for family-owned supermarkets to compete in today’s retail landscape.

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