When considering great Tyler businesses it’s difficult to pass over the Brookshire’s grocery stores. The Brookshire’s stores have very nearly achieved iconic status by establishing a near monopoly in the East Texas area. Admittedly this feat allows the store to charge essentially what it wants for its products. Brookshire’s prices are not sky high, but neither are they exactly a bargain.

The Brookshire’s thank you cards entitle the patrons to special deals but in reality the discount merely drops the prices to approximately the same level as the store’s competitors. The arrival of numerous Wal-Mart Supercenters in Tyler has served to provide some much needed competition, but the grocer continues to compete successfully even with the higher prices, owing to the fact that their customer service is so legendary. On top of that their stores are generally cleaner, more attractive and better organized than their national counterpart.

The crown jewel in the Brookshire’s chain is the Rice road location in Tyler. Its part produce market, part butcher shop, part delicatessen, and part lunch counter. I should also be careful not to forget the bakery, or coffee shop (which actually serves great coffee). Over the last couple of years the store has evolved into its own food court. It’s like an old fashioned market with modern conveniences.

The food the store carries ranges from that typically found in your average grocery store, to all sorts of specialty foods like sushi, tofu and an assortment of sea food. The Rice road store is really a great market and is essentially Brookshire’s answer to the Wal-Mart Supercenter with the added convenience of the local chain’s service.

While it seems odd to think of grabbing lunch or take out from a grocery store this one is definitely worthy of that consideration. And if it’s a choice between the national and the local chains, I suggest sticking with the latter, at least when it’s reasonable to do so. After all, it’s better for the local economy.