Central Market Preston Royal reopened its doors on June 30, following a 20-month rebuilding and restoration process. The gourmet food destination has been closed since it experienced significant damage from the tornados that swept through North Dallas, Texas, on Oct. 20, 2019.
Central Market’s reopening represents a major milestone in the rebirth of the popular neighborhood shopping center. 
“Our Central Market [employees] and the entire Preston Royal community stepped up during this time of rebuilding and recovery,” said Stephen Butt, president of Central Market/H-E-B Division. “While this was a total community effort, I am especially proud of our Preston Royal [employees] who have gone above and beyond to continue to serve this neighborhood. The silver lining here is that our Preston Royal store is stronger and better, and we are ready to welcome back our loyal customers to provide them the service and shopping experience they deserve.”
By rebuilding, Central Market slightly modified the floorplan to incorporate many new features inside and outside the store. Among the more notable changes is the addition of the company’s Curbside pickup, which allows customers to order online and pick up from the Preston Royal location. Ten Curbside spots are located on the south side of the store.
The café area, always known to be a neighborhood gathering spot, was expanded and now has an additional seating area on the renovated mezzanine level. The original triptych, by artist Cindy Holt, which depicts the beauty of the surrounding neighborhoods, was also re-installed.
Other new features added to the Preston Royal location include self-checkout registers; larger produce, seafood and floral departments; expanded grocery, cheese and wine selections; a larger sandwich bar; and a new and improved coffee bar experience.
Among the primary goals for the rebuilding process was to keep the mid-century architecture such as the vast arched windows and curved roof facade that were original to the structure. H-E-B architects enhanced the mezzanine area to showcase the beams, windows and first-floor overlook, and the location also incorporates more energy efficient fixtures and equipment.
Many of the approximately 130 Central Market [employees] will return for the reopening. After the storm, all were given the opportunity to transfer to another Central Market while the Preston Royal location was being rebuilt.
For Central Market, the cleanup and restoration process began immediately following the storm. While most of the surrounding buildings had to be leveled due to structural damage, rebuilding continues as the shopping center looks toward its rebirth.
“The effort to rebuild what was lost has been a true partnership with our retail and community stakeholders,” said Patrick Krejs, managing director at Regency Centers, the developers of the shopping center. “Our teams have been working tirelessly together to bring Preston Oaks back to life and to do it safely during a pandemic. I’m proud of the progress made and thrilled to see Central Market opening their doors again to the community.”
In addition to rebuilding the store, H-E-B/Central Market has focused on rebuilding the community and helping its neighbors during this recovery time. To mark the reopening of the store, Central Market is once again giving back to the schools in surrounding neighborhoods by making a gift of $20,000 to Preston Hollow Elementary School and $20,000 to St. Mark’s School of Texas, which is adjacent to Central Market.
“I’m thrilled about the Preston Royal Central Market location, my Central Market, reopening and re-anchoring this shopping center that’s in the heart of Preston Oaks,” said former Dallas City Councilmember Jennifer S. Gates. “I remember the damage the tornado wrecked in our neighborhood when I toured the area the day after the storm. Reopening it is yet another sign of recovery, and the meaningful investment into our children at Preston Hollow Elementary and St. Marks of Texas means so much after more than a year of Zoom and then hybrid schooling.”
On the one-year anniversary of the tornado last October, H-E-B/Central Market announced a $1 million gift to the Dallas Education Foundation for the direct benefit of Dallas ISD to assist in the rebuilding process. Additionally, to help retore the area’s natural beauty and replace the mature canopy of trees destroyed during the storm, Central Market also gifted 50 new trees to the neighborhood through the RETREET organization.
Immediately following the tornado, Central Market gifted the Dallas Education Foundation $50,000 to use toward rebuilding libraries in three schools damaged in the storms.
