Lewis Food Town
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Grocery retail |
| Founded | December 1993 |
| Founder | Ross Lewis and six associates |
| Headquarters | Houston , United States |
Area served | Greater Houston area |
Key people | Mike Lewis (President) |
| Products | Grocery |
| Website | foodtown |
Lewis Food Town, Inc., known simply as Food Town, is a privately held grocery retailer operating 29 outlets throughout the Greater Houston area. The company was established by Ross Lewis alongside six associates in late 1993, with its inaugural store launching in Pasadena, Texas, on April 28, 1994. Following the founder’s death in December 2020, the enterprise remains family-owned and is managed by successive generations. In recognition of its legacy, Food Town received accolades at the Houston Business Journal’s 2023 Family-Owned Business Awards. Its footprint extends across the Houston metropolitan region, from Spring to Webster and Sugar Land to Baytown.
Company Growth
Food Town embarked on swift expansion shortly after its initial opening in April 1994, adding two more stores the subsequent month. Over the next ten years, the chain expanded to 24 locations by acquiring former Albertson’s outlets and taking over the site of Houston’s former Auchan hypermarket. In April 2015, the acquisition of Gerland’s grocery stores in Houston contributed an additional six stores, bringing the total to 32 before two were later closed.
The company’s expansion philosophy focuses on repurposing existing retail properties instead of constructing new buildings. President Mike Lewis highlights that this strategy not only represents a sound investment but also reinforces commitment to local neighborhoods and supports their revitalization efforts.
Community Involvement
Food Town demonstrates strong engagement with Houston-area communities and charitable organizations. Its yearly Making Strides Against Breast Cancer initiative promotes contributions to the American Cancer Society through both online platforms and in-store campaigns, generating $50,000 in 2022 for cancer research and education. The company also organizes the Food Town Golf Tournament benefiting Special Olympics Texas and actively participates in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. In 2021, Food Town collaborated with Houston’s KHOU television station on the Turn the Page literacy program, collecting upwards of 45,000 books for families in need.
For more than ten years, Food Town along with its suppliers has distributed Thanksgiving meal packages containing dry groceries, meat, and cheese to approximately 250–300 underprivileged Houston households annually. These efforts are coordinated through partnerships with local churches and school districts.
Little-Known Facts
Certain Food Town locations bear historical and cultural importance. Notably, in 1989, Boris Yeltsin—who would later become Russia’s president—visited a former Randalls store in Webster, Texas (now operating as Food Town’s El Dorado store), to observe an American supermarket firsthand. This visit inspired a comic opera produced by Houston’s Opera in the Heights in 2020. Additionally, Food Town’s Wilcrest Drive location was featured in the premiere episode of comedian Mohammed Amer’s Netflix series, “Mo”.
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