2nd Tri-Cities Costco gets move-in permit. Opening day countdown begins
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Costco opens Richland store Aug. 8 with $25M build and 2,178-person capacity.
- Health district completed 2 of 5 pre-opening inspections; both scored perfectly.
- The store site includes a 32-spot fueling station and a bank of electric vehicle chargers.
With a temporary occupancy permit in hand, it’s all systems go for Costco Wholesale to debut its Richland warehouse store at the 8th hour of the 8th day of the 8th month.
That’s 8 a.m., Aug. 8, at 3125 Queensgate Drive.
The permit allows Issaquah-based Costco to put its new-built $25 million store into service. It sets the maximum occupancy for the 182,644-square-foot building at 2,178 people.
The store also has started its required pre-opening food safety inspections, with two of five inspections by the Benton Franklin Health District completed.
With the opening now just a little more than a week away, Costco is starting to share information about its plans.
Notably, it has opened a temporary membership office at 2735 Queensgate Drive, near Bath and Body Works at Target-anchored Vintner Square.
Costco offers two tiers of membership — $60 a year for “Gold Star” members and $120 for executive members. New members receive a $40 gift card for signing on as executive members or $20 for Gold Star ones.
The new store isn’t expected to attract a long line of people before it opens. Costco confirmed it does not allow overnight camping in its parking lots.
The new Richland Costco features a standard lineup of amenities, including a 32-spot fueling station, a tire center, a pharmacy, vision center, hearing aid center and various departments within the building.
There is a bank of electric vehicle chargers near the fueling station.
Costco’s builder, Lydig Construction, broke ground on the new store in November, shortly after Costco Wholesale finalized a long-term deal to lease the former orchard from the Washington Department of Natural Resources.
The new store needs the same inspections as the Kennewick Costco routinely gets from the Tri-Cities based health district: Bakery, deli, food service (which includes its ready-to-eat hot dogs), meat department and store (groceries).
To date the results of its meat department and bakery inspections have been posted, with both inspections earning perfect scores.
The land lease includes capacity to build additional retail space on the Costco property. There has been no permit activity indicating future development.
Tri-City Herald reporter Annette Cary contributed to this report.
This story was originally published August 1, 2025 at 10:44 AM.