'I've been waiting for Costco to be here for years': Jackson Township has grand opening
JACKSON TWP. − An hour before the grand opening of Costco Wholesale, about 20 people formed a line outside the big-box retailer.
Ken MacDonald of Green was first. He arrived shortly before 4 a.m. because he wasn't sure what to expect.
"I've been waiting for Costco to be here for years," said MacDonald, who has shopped with friends at stores in Washington, where the company is based.
He became a member in July, joining more than 13,000 other people who signed up before the store opening ― a record number for the Midwest region, according to the regional manager.
The 160,000-square-foot store at 4953 Huckleberry St. NW is the first Costco in Stark County. The next closest is in Boston Heights, about 30 miles to the north.
'A big surge': Jackson Township construction aims to help traffic near new Costco
Local elected officials and representatives from the business community celebrated the opening with a ribbon cutting Thursday morning. The first shoppers entered just before 8 a.m. to browse aisles filled with bulk snacks, tables stacked with clothes and other groceries, and home goods.
Dennis Saunier, president and CEO of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, credited developer Scott Fitzpatrick and Jackson Township trustees for attracting the anchor tenant of the Creekside Crossing shopping plaza.
"There's a lot of excitement in the community about Costco coming to Stark County, and I think we've made it today," he said.
Jackson Township Trustee Todd Hawke said he was glad to welcome Costco to the area and also thanked the team of local officials and Fitzpatrick, who has been developing Creekside Crossing through his Dressler Properties company.
"Scott worked hard to make this a developable piece of land," Hawke said.
Chicago-based Novack Construction started work on the $28.5 million project in April 2022. Costco Wholesale Corp. bought the land from Dressler Properties for $5.83 million in June of that year.
Jackson Township Fiscal Officer Randy Gonzalez said the membership-only warehouse is expected to employ as many as 250 people. It's located in a joint economic development district (JEDD) with Canton, so the township and city will split employee income tax revenue.
There also is a tax increment financing agreement for the property near the intersection of Frank Avenue and Huckleberry Street NW that will be reinvested into road work, he said.
Fitzpatrick worked with architect John Dodovich to make the roughly 18-acre Costco site developable and Costco brought their own builder. The two said they have plans for the south side of Huckleberry Street, as well.
"Costco I think is going to be a good addition to the community," Dodovich said.
The Jackson Township location includes a hearing aid center, optical department, tire service center, gas station and pharmacy. The store's first customers praised the quality of the store's products and its own Kirkland Signature brand.
"It's like an adventure every time you go in," said Trevor Borkin-Dumond of New Philadelphia.
He's been an Executive member for years, making the 65-minute drive to the nearest one before this location opened.
Linda and Jim Thompson, who ended their Costco membership when they moved from California to Canton in 2010, have missed the Kirkland brand and having a nearby warehouse. They're also Executive members and said the savings on products and gas add up.
"It is so worth the membership fee," Linda said.
Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.comOn Twitter: @kbyerREP
What to know about Costco
Here's what you need to know about the new Costco Wholesale that opened Thursday in Jackson Township:
Regular store hours are 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
A Gold Star membership costs $60 a year, and an Executive membership costs $120 a year. Both come with two membership cards that can be used online or in warehouses, but only the Executive card earns 2% back on qualified purchases and discounts on Costco services.
Memberships are accepted at all Costco warehouses and costco.com.
Costco stores accept cash, debit or ATM cards, EBT cards and checks but only accept Visa credit cards.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Costco Wholesale opens first store location in Stark County, Ohio
