Rice Epicurean Markets
Encyclopedia
Rice Epicurean Markets is an American
niche grocery store
chain based in Southwest Houston, Houston, Texas
. The company operates five Rice Epicurean Markets, which range in size from 25,000 to 42000 square feet (3,901.9 m²). Rice Epicurean Markets is wholly owned by founding family members.
In 1937, The Village shopping center west of Rice Institute (now Rice University
) was an undeveloped, wooded area. Rice Boulevard was an unpaved dirt road and West University Place was in its developmental stages. In those early days, there were only two buildings in the shopping center, an ice house at the corner of Rice Boulevard and Kirby, and William H. Levy's Rice Boulevard Food Market.
The first store was only 40 feet (12.2 m) by 60 feet (18.3 m), and included William Levy's wife Edna among the personnel, which numbered only five. That successful first store was eventually enlarged on five occasions until there was no longer space on the site for expansion.
In 1955, William Levy's son-in-law, Alfred L. Friedlander, now Co-Chairman Emeritus, joined the business. Two years later, his son, Joel M. Levy, now also Co-Chairman Emeritus, came into the family business.
Gary Friedlander, Alfred's son, is now the President and COO of the company.
When the Tanglewood store opened, it was surrounded by farmland. The store virtually stood alone and was the only major structure in what was to become the Uptown District
of Houston.
In 1960, Rice Epicurean moved its headquarters to a plot of land in what is now the Gulfton
area. During the same year, the three existing Rice Food Markets merged with another family grocery, Jack's, also with three locations. The grocer also moved its first store on Rice Boulevard to a new location across the street. The 17000 square feet (1,579.4 m²) store was eventually closed in 2003.
The company opened more Rice stores and acquired independents, amassing more than 35 stores.
The company went public in 1968, but by the late 1970s the family reclaimed it.
In the 1980s, Rice converted some its of conventional Rice Food Markets to discount grocery stores, including Pricebuster and Grocery World. At its peak, Rice would operate 55 stores.
In 2005 Rice opened its newest headquarters facility in the Gulfton plot.
The Rice Epicurean concept pays close attention to the regular stock of grocery store items, but special requests, gourmet products and customer service figure prominently in the overall operation. The perishable departments receive special attention, featuring the finest meat, produce, chef prepared salads and entrees, upscale floral departments and European bakery departments.
The charge card system with monthly billing, introduced in 1964, remains in effect. In 2002, Rice Epicurean became the only Houston grocer to offer online shopping.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
niche grocery store
Grocery store
A grocery store is a store that retails food. A grocer, the owner of a grocery store, stocks different kinds of foods from assorted places and cultures, and sells these "groceries" to customers. Large grocery stores that stock products other than food, such as clothing or household items, are...
chain based in Southwest Houston, Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. The company operates five Rice Epicurean Markets, which range in size from 25,000 to 42000 square feet (3,901.9 m²). Rice Epicurean Markets is wholly owned by founding family members.
Rice Boulevard Food Market
Founded on May 5, 1937, by William H. Levy, grandfather of the current owners, the first Rice Food Market store, a 2400 square feet (223 m²) building located on Rice Boulevard in Houston, was named Rice Boulevard Food Market.In 1937, The Village shopping center west of Rice Institute (now Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
) was an undeveloped, wooded area. Rice Boulevard was an unpaved dirt road and West University Place was in its developmental stages. In those early days, there were only two buildings in the shopping center, an ice house at the corner of Rice Boulevard and Kirby, and William H. Levy's Rice Boulevard Food Market.
The first store was only 40 feet (12.2 m) by 60 feet (18.3 m), and included William Levy's wife Edna among the personnel, which numbered only five. That successful first store was eventually enlarged on five occasions until there was no longer space on the site for expansion.
In 1955, William Levy's son-in-law, Alfred L. Friedlander, now Co-Chairman Emeritus, joined the business. Two years later, his son, Joel M. Levy, now also Co-Chairman Emeritus, came into the family business.
Gary Friedlander, Alfred's son, is now the President and COO of the company.
Rice Food Markets
In April 1957 the family opened its second location in Tanglewood. The Tanglewood store necessitated a change in the firm's name from Rice Boulevard Food Market to Rice Food Markets.When the Tanglewood store opened, it was surrounded by farmland. The store virtually stood alone and was the only major structure in what was to become the Uptown District
Uptown Houston
The Uptown District of Houston is located 6.2 miles west of downtown and is centered along Post Oak Boulevard, Westheimer Road , and the Galleria...
of Houston.
In 1960, Rice Epicurean moved its headquarters to a plot of land in what is now the Gulfton
Gulfton, Houston, Texas
Gulfton is a community in Southwest Houston, Texas, United States that includes a group of apartment complexes that primarily house Hispanic and immigrant populations. It is located between the 610 Loop and Beltway 8, west of the City of Bellaire, southeast of U.S. Highway 59, and north of...
area. During the same year, the three existing Rice Food Markets merged with another family grocery, Jack's, also with three locations. The grocer also moved its first store on Rice Boulevard to a new location across the street. The 17000 square feet (1,579.4 m²) store was eventually closed in 2003.
The company opened more Rice stores and acquired independents, amassing more than 35 stores.
The company went public in 1968, but by the late 1970s the family reclaimed it.
In the 1980s, Rice converted some its of conventional Rice Food Markets to discount grocery stores, including Pricebuster and Grocery World. At its peak, Rice would operate 55 stores.
In 2005 Rice opened its newest headquarters facility in the Gulfton plot.
Rice Epicurean Markets
The Tanglewood store was remodeled in 1988 and became the first to assume the name Rice Epicurean Market. At that time Rice Epicurean was a division of Rice Food Markets. But the company would soon assume the Rice Epicurean Markets name. In 1999, Rice Food Markets changed its name to its current moniker after it sold or closed four Grocery World, six Pricebuster and three Rice Food Markets stores after deciding to focus on its upscale niche instead of market size. After the divesture, eight stores remain, with a ninth under construction.The Rice Epicurean concept pays close attention to the regular stock of grocery store items, but special requests, gourmet products and customer service figure prominently in the overall operation. The perishable departments receive special attention, featuring the finest meat, produce, chef prepared salads and entrees, upscale floral departments and European bakery departments.
The charge card system with monthly billing, introduced in 1964, remains in effect. In 2002, Rice Epicurean became the only Houston grocer to offer online shopping.