Costco is pressing ahead with an aggressive expansion plan, with 14 new warehouse locations scheduled to open in the coming months. The bulk of these stores will be in the United States, but the retail giant is also broadening its footprint in Canada as part of a longer-term growth push.
This year alone, Costco has already cut the ribbon on new locations in Arizona, California, Florida, Minnesota, New York, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin, as well as in Mexico and Taiwan. The company's leadership has signaled that this is just the beginning.
In March, CEO Ron Vachris reiterated the company's goal to open 30 or more warehouses annually over the next five to ten years, a target echoed by CFO Gary Millerchip. According to Vachris, roughly half of those new stores will be in the U.S., with the remainder spread across international markets such as Mexico, Canada, Asia, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
For now, Costco is not venturing into any new U.S. states, which may disappoint residents of Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Instead, the immediate expansion focuses on existing markets, with five stores slated for October openings:
- Lee's Summit, Missouri
- The Colony, Texas
- Amherst, New York
- Lawrence, Kansas
- Camarillo, California
Costco's website lists opening dates for two of these locations: Lee's Summit is set to open on October 2, while Amherst targets an October 28 debut. The gas station at the Amherst site began operations last week, according to Nexstar's WIVB. In Camarillo, the fuel station opened in May, with the warehouse following on October 30.
November brings an additional nine openings, including four in Canada: Northeast Edmonton and Lloydminster in Alberta, and East Windsor and Wasaga Beach in Ontario. The U.S. locations for November are:
- South Meridian, Idaho
- Vallejo, California
- Chandler, Arizona
- Newport News, Virginia
- Franklin, Wisconsin
Specific dates for these November openings have not yet been announced. The Chandler location will be a business center, catering to bulk purchasing for businesses and institutions.
In some cases, the new stores are replacements rather than entirely new markets. For example, the Newport News warehouse will replace a store that has been in the city since 1988. Nexstar's WAVY reported that Costco purchased a 32-acre property a few blocks away, where it plans to build a 163,000-square-foot retail warehouse and fuel station.
Beyond these confirmed openings, Costco is actively working on future locations. City officials in Downey, California, approved a plan for a new Costco earlier this year, and proposals for warehouses in Charleston County, South Carolina, and Hillsborough County, Florida, were submitted this summer. Additional projects are in the pipeline in Fresno, California; Lake St. Louis, Missouri; Southborough, Massachusetts; Silver Spring, Maryland; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Des Plaines, Illinois, the latter expected to be a business center.
The expansion comes as Costco has introduced new products, including coffee and snacks, and recently cut prices on some Kirkland Signature items. The company's growth strategy is part of a broader retail trend, with other chains like Raising Cane's expanding nationwide as well.
Costco's aggressive buildout reflects its confidence in sustained demand for warehouse shopping, even as the broader economy faces headwinds. With more than a dozen new locations opening in the next two months, the company is positioning itself for continued market penetration.
