Doubling the size of the original footprint, the multilevel 145,000-square-foot new build replaces the longest standing H-E-B in Austin.

The new location, which sits on the corner of South Congress Avenue and Oltorf Street, celebrated its grand opening at 6 a.m. Wednesday.

The new store is two stories high, spans more than 145,000 square feet and is run by more than 600 employees. It's grand opening comes nearly three years after the previous store in the same location was demolished.

On South Congress Avenue, H-E-B opens its long-awaited store. There will be an indoor and outdoor dining area on the ground floor, a large selection of products on the second floor, and three levels of parking above ground.

Hundreds of customers lined up in the cold and rain before dawn Wednesday to be among the first inside H-E-B's new South Congress store. Why it matters: It's the latest multi-level H-E-B in Austin, and the opening comes as the region's dominant grocer renovates many of its central Texas stores and continues to expand its footprint in the area.