(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)
THE VILLAGES — Residents of The Villages have been enthusiastic about the new Costco store nearing completion at the Buffalo Ridge Shopping Plaza on County Road 466.
A Costco spokesperson has shared with the Daily Commercial that the bulk-savings superstore will be welcoming shoppers for the first time at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 6.
“Costco Grand Openings are always exciting and busy for our teams and communities,” the spokesperson said.
“Because of this high level of excitement, we do not have any festivities, and the ribbon cutting is a very concise and quick process.”
The Costco rep added that a pre-opening timeframe will be featured on opening day.
The Villages Costco will offer an incentive to new members signing up for the first time or for those with expired memberships for at least 18 months.
The promotion will be published on the store’s website when Costco begins signing up new members at the store before the grand opening day. That date and promotion are not yet available, they said.
The new Costco will be located at the Buffalo Ridge Shopping Plaza on Wedgewood Lane (by the Hobby Lobby and KFC on County Road 466, unincorporated Sumter County, between Oxford and Wildwood). It will encompass 162,000 square feet, including a 2,000-square-foot liquor store. Plans include 700 parking spaces and a gas station with 32 fuel pumps.
Some are concerned about the congestion the popular membership retail giant will bring to the area. Polo Ridge resident Betty Harmon lamented to the Villages News that speeding and accidents have become too common in the area at a springtime meeting of the Community Development District 3 Board of Supervisors.
“Everybody complains that there were no stores, and then we get stores, and they complain,” one Villages resident posted on Facebook.
But Costco won’t be the only instigator of increased traffic looming before us. A new Walmart nearby on County Road 466 is months away from opening.
“We are super excited about their arrival,” said Villages Realtor Tony Phillips about the new Costco.
“I sell homes for The Villages, and many people I have toured said, ‘You have the perfect community except you don’t have a Costco.’ Well, now we do.”
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Grand opening day announced for new Costco in The Villages
Reporting by Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial / Daily Commercial
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