Centerpointless Leaves Houston in the Dark, HEB Enters It’s Hero Era

Oh, CenterPoint Energy, where do we even begin? If you’re reading this, you’re probably somewhere in Houston lamenting the recent chaos that followed Hurricane Beryl’s grand entrance. Sure, hurricanes aren’t a new phenomenon around here, but you'd think a company tasked with keeping our lights on would have, you know, figured out how to actually do that by now. But no, when Beryl hit, CenterPoint dropped the ball so hard it might as well have left a dent.

If you didn’t know, Houston’s a bustling hub of culinary creativity, home to countless food businesses and hardworking individuals who keep our stomachs and spirits full. When the hurricane warnings sounded, these folks were ready. They’ve weathered storms before (literally and figuratively). But the one thing they can’t prepare for? The sheer incompetence of an energy company that apparently didn’t get the memo about providing, well, energy.

Take Dandelion Cafe for example, this charming black-owned & woman-owned brunch café found themselves scrambling in the dark, desperately trying to come to terms with its estimated forty thousand dollar loss of food. Or how about Comatl HTX, a beloved latin-owned taqueria, left to watch as their meticulously prepped ingredients wilted and spoiled, but they didn’t go down as easy as their tacos. And let’s not forget the iconic Crumbville TX Bakery, a stable black owned vegan bakery, where the ovens went cold, and the dough went flat.

Restaurants had to throw out mountains of food. You know, the food they ordered in anticipation of reopening post-storm. Small business owners watched helplessly as their hard-earned stock went bad, and their bottom lines took a hit they might never recover from. And let's not forget the food workers who were left without work, their livelihoods dangling by a thread because someone at CenterPoint couldn’t be bothered to do their job right, we’re looking at you Jason Wells.

It’s not just about the loss of power; it’s about the loss of trust. Houston’s food businesses and workers depend on reliable infrastructure, and when that fails, it’s not just inconvenient – it’s devastating. And the kicker? CenterPoint's response was as bland as unsalted crackers. Vague promises, a lack of transparency, and an utter disregard for the urgency of the situation.

Now, if you’re thinking all hope was lost, think again. Enter HEB, Houston’s very own supermarket savior. While CenterPoint was busy twiddling their thumbs, HEB swooped in like the culinary superheroes they are. They opened their doors to those affected, offering storage for perishables and even mobilizing their fleet of trucks to deliver supplies and generators.

HEB didn't just stop at helping community businesses; they extended their hand to workers too. Free meals to area residents and first responders and water and supplies for those displaced by the damgae and outages. They showed up, ready to support the community in ways that CenterPoint could only dream of.

We get it, hurricanes are tough. But so are the people of Houston. They prepare, they adapt, they overcome. What they shouldn’t have to do is compensate for the shortcomings of an energy provider that seems perpetually unprepared. CenterPoint, if you’re listening, take a note from the playbook of our local chefs: mise en place is everything, and you’ve got a lot of catching up to do.

In the meantime, Houston’s food scene will, as always, find a way to thrive. The creativity, resilience, and community spirit here are unmatched. But let's be clear: it’s not because of CenterPoint Energy, but in spite of it. Here’s praying that next time, they’ll have the lights on because Houston deserves better. And a special shoutout to HEB: thanks for showing us what real community support looks like.

UPDATE: The businesses listed in this article all now have restored power