The new Costco, a 157,500-square-foot facility located on U.S. Highway 83 and 57th Avenue Northeast in northern Bismarck, will open its doors Tuesday morning, August 25, following a ceremony and speech by Mayor Steve Bakken.
“People are always asking if we can get a Costco in the western part of the state,” said Susan Holloway, project coordinator for the Bismarck Costco, noting that North Dakota residents have been applying for a Costco for several years.
The closest Costco to Bismarck is in West Fargo, and residents of western North Dakota can drive all the way to Billings, Mont., Before hitting another Costco.
Last August, Bismarck state commissioners voted 4-1 to annex land on the outskirts of the city to make way for the new development and incorporation into the city. The city council also agreed to raise $ 2.1 million, agreed with another $ 2 million from Costco, to renovate intersections outside the development, build Highway 83 and build two new traffic lights to relieve traffic congestion at the site. satisfy.
Then-Commissioner Shawn Oban, who did not run for re-election last autumn and no longer serves on the commission, was the only commissioner to object to the plan, citing the important allocation of taxpayer dollars to the crossroads renovate.
Costco, which followed a cult following in May parts of the country, is developing a competitive market in central North Dakota. Bismarck is already home to several stores with large boxes, including one Target, a Sam’s Club, two Walmarts, and a third Walmart across the river in Mandan.
But Bismarck’s population has seen steady growth over decades, with the capital’s expansion period picking up significantly over the last ten years. Costco cited this consistent growth and central location as key factors in its decision to open the new outlet.
Bakken added that, due to Bismarck’s important location in the region, the city will have more than enough commerce to accommodate a new store with large boxes.
“The thing with Bismarck is that we are a regional hub for a lot of things,” he said. “In western North Dakota, we are kind of the hub.
Bakken also noted that Bismarck’s population is below the typical threshold that Costco is looking to open a new store, but he said the company re-evaluated its modeling when it realized how much of a Bismarck magnet for the rest of ‘ e region is.
“Their company made Costco realize that North Dakotans travel,” Bakken explained. “It’s nothing to drive an hour to get to the supermarket. We just like to drive.”
Costco, a multinational retailer, requires membership to shop, and the company holds nearly 100 million subscribers worldwide.
In recent years, the company has grown at a rapid pace, and Kayla Campillo, regional marketing manager for the company’s Midwestern division, said Costco is expanding stores in the Midwest more than in any other region in the United States.
Readers can reach Forum Reporter Adam Willis, a Report for America corps member, at [email protected].
