US-based membership-only big-box warehouse club Costco Wholesale has begun construction on its fourth store in Winnipeg. The new location will be at 4077 Portage Avenue near Assiniboia Downs on the western edge of the city.
The City of Winnipeg issued Costco a development permit in July for the construction of a 166,894-square-foot store. Work on the site, currently an open field, commenced several days ago.
The new Portage Avenue location will be part of the growing Westport mixed-use development, spanning over 15 acres. The project, approved by city councillors last year, includes plans for a one-story building and parking lot. Renderings from June 2023 also indicate the addition of a gas bar at the site.
The new store will join Winnipeg’s existing Costco locations on St. James Street, Regent Avenue West, and McGillivray Boulevard.
Costco has a significant economic footprint in Canada, where it serves over 10 million members and generates average annual sales of about CDN$25 billion.
Background on Costco
Costco’s journey began in 1976 when Sol Price introduced the first membership warehouse club, Price Club, in San Diego, California. Initially limited to business members, Price Club offered a wide range of supplies and wholesale items. Jim Sinegal, a key figure in Price Club’s success, later co-founded Costco Wholesale with Jeff Brotman in 1983, opening their first warehouse in Seattle, Washington.
The merger of Price Club and Costco Wholesale in 1993 created a powerhouse in the retail industry. The company today carefully selects about 4,000 stock keeping units (SKUs) per warehouse, significantly fewer than the 30,000 found in most supermarkets, allowing them to offer the best value to members.
As of August 2024, Costco operates 884 warehouses worldwide, with a significant presence in North America. The company has 611 locations in the United States and Puerto Rico, 108 in Canada, and 40 in Mexico. Its global footprint extends to countries such as Japan, the United Kingdom, Korea, Australia, Taiwan, China, Spain, France, Iceland, New Zealand, and Sweden.
Costco’s financial performance remains strong, with net sales reaching US$210.55 billion for the first 44 weeks of 2024. The company’s success has earned it the 11th spot on the Fortune 500 rankings of the largest United States corporations by total revenue.
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I have heard this is more a relocation of the St James Costco than a net new location. When the Portage Ave store opens the staff from the current St James location will be relocated. It seems the St James location will then close for a time it is speculated to be reopening as a Costco Business Centre.
Very interesting! We can update this story.
Well that would just be stupid if that’s the case… can’t imagine they would need that large a space for corporate business in Winnipeg.
How about a location around north side of the city.
Aurora eria or Riverbend
We could really use one.
How about opening a location on the south side of the city.
New location by the Assiniboine down called the Westport area is fine, BUT all the residents in downtown Winnipeg, west end Winnipeg, Polo Park residents, north end Winnipeg, McPhillips North, they will no longer have the convenience of shopping at St James location, so,I probably will not renew my Costco membership when that happens, unless they keep St. James location open, same as the others not a Business Centre
North Winnipeg would be great location as it would serve Winnipeg, Selkirk and the whole interlake!
That’s a good point. … it probably would be smarter to build one in the North taking into consideration the population of the outflying areas… wonder if they even considered that?🤔
Hello people will have to travel farther, More congestion for me to get to work
Canada needs more Real Canadian Superstores and Real Canadian Wholesale Clubs across Canada ASAP