A Texas grocery chain is preparing to close its fifth Houston-area store in roughly two years, adding another change to the state’s changing supermarket landscape. Food Town’s Deer Park supermarket is expected to close December 24, 2026, when its lease expires.
The store at 3322 Center Street has been a regular stop for local shoppers for years. On October 13, Deer Park Economic Development said the store manager had confirmed the decision, citing higher rent and weaker store performance since the COVID-19 pandemic. An employee also confirmed the planned December closing to Houston news outlet Chron.
A longtime grocery address is changing
The Center Street building has a much longer history than the current supermarket banner. According to Houston Historic Retail, a Weingarten’s grocery store opened there in 1978. The property later became part of the Gerland’s grocery business, and the Food Town name appeared around 2004.
Food Town took ownership of the location in 2015 when it purchased the remaining Gerland’s stores. Now, the building could be headed for an entirely different use.
Deer Park Economic Development reported that a fitness chain may move into the space after renovations. The prospective tenant has not been named publicly, and plans for the property have not been finalized in a company announcement.
The fifth regional closing in roughly two years
The Deer Park decision follows Food Town departures in Sugar Land, Webster, Baytown and Houston. In September 2025, the chain closed its store at 1130 Eldridge Road in Sugar Land. Other locations that shut down during the same stretch included 570 El Dorado Boulevard in Webster, 9520 Jones Road in Houston and 1700 Decker Drive in Baytown.
That makes Deer Park the fifth known regional store slated to disappear during this period. It does not mean Food Town is exiting the Houston market: the independently owned grocer still lists 25 Houston-area stores, including Deer Park, on its website.
What workers and shoppers can expect
Deer Park Economic Development said the company was working to find positions for the store manager and bakery manager at other locations. No verified total for affected employees or confirmed number of job losses has been announced.
Customers who want to stay with the chain can consult Food Town’s official store directory, which lists supermarkets in Pasadena, South Houston and other surrounding communities. The company still lists the Deer Park store as operating seven days a week while its planned closing date approaches.
For regular customers, the loss could involve more than switching grocery aisles. The Deer Park store also advertises bill payment, money transfers and vehicle-registration services alongside groceries. Shoppers who rely on those errands will have to find another convenient stop if the closure proceeds as planned.
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