1st look inside Tri-Cities long-awaited new $25M Costco store
A swarm of eager customers descended on a tower of men’s and women’s Hoka sneakers. Costco employees searched for sizes and deftly dealt out blue boxes with a limit of two per shopper.
It was one of several hotspots that the first customers to Richland’s $25 million store zoned in on immediately when the doors opened Friday morning.
More than 500 members were waiting outside at 7:30 a.m. to be the first to shop in the store, at 3125 Queensgate Drive.
Parking quickly filled up before 8 a.m. for the long-awaited opening of Tri-Cities’ second Costco store. As soon as the ribbon was cut by city officials, shoppers grabbed shiny new carts and headed inside to search for opening day deals.
There were exclusive items and specials for the grand opening, including marked down prices on fresh chicken breasts and sirloin steaks.
The smell of grilling beef samples drew a line of hungry fans. There were also samples of ice cream sandwiches, al pastor pork and chicken tikka masala.
At least 100 stood in a separate line to reach the beer, wine and liquor section.
A small area there was dedicated to high-end alcohol — a Costco employee said those products were available only during the opening. That area had its own waiting line.
Tri-Cities winemaker John Bookwalter stood nearby, autographing bottles of a red vintage from J. Bookwalter Winery with a special label: “Welcome to Richland.”
Throughout the 182,000-square-foot store, customers packed aisles as if it was peak Christmas season, picking up rotisserie chickens, Halloween costumes and Hermiston watermelons.
“It was beautiful,” said Mario Malarchick, 67, of Richland, who was there to pick up some breakfast sausage and salad mix. But he noted the crowd was “like being in a Black Friday sale.”
Four hours after opening, the checkout lines extended to the back of the store.
Store layout
The store’s sections are organized differently than the smaller Kennewick location on West Gage Boulevard.
TVs, electronics and a T-Mobile service kiosk are up front, followed by aisles of home appliances on the left side as you walk in.
The walk-in produce, refrigerated dairy and bakery section line the back of the store, similar to Kennewick. The meat cases are also toward the back.
On the right side of the store, you’ll find the pharmacy and optical departments toward the front. Then come the pantry items and snacks sections, followed by the frozen food sections toward the rear of the store.
The center is stocked with clothing, including Nike sweatshirts, Cotopaxi jackets and vests, Hunter boots, Tory Burch and Ecco shoes, and Barefoot Dreams robes.
Customers must weave through the seasonal items and snack section up front to get to the cash registers. There is also a bank of self-checkout stations.
And there’s the ever popular food court with ordering kiosks to get your famous Costco hotdog, fruit smoothie and slice of cheese pizza.
This story was originally published August 8, 2025 at 12:43 PM.
