Kroger and Albertsons have both been in Tyler (I think Albertsons was Skaggs Albertsons initially) and Brookshires ran them both out, along with a lot of other big boys -- Safeway, Piggly-Wiggley, Weingartens, Food Lion, etc..
Brookshires' prices have always been, and continue to be, outrageous. But their stores are immaculate, their "aggressive hospitality" always visible and the people in the offices evidently very, very smart.
I would like to see HEB in Tyler, too. My question in the case of Brookshires abdicating has to do with the fate of such institutions as the East Texas Food Bank. Like them or not, Brookshires has been a good community partner.