It's almost here. A new Costco location is about to open in Florida, one of several in the works.
The popular warehouse chain where you can buy cases of snacks and sundries, boxes of baked goods, fresh fruit, meats and cheese, new eyeglasses or hearing aids, prescriptions, gasoline, tires and even cars is having a grand opening in The Villages on Aug. 6.
It's part of the company's plans to open 25-30 new locations every year, generally split evenly between the U.S. and the rest of the world. Other openings in August include new stores in Texas, Nevada, Washington, Quebec, Ontario, and Mexico.
Don't expect a lot of partying, though. Doors to the new warehouses open and shopping starts right away.
"Costco Grand Openings are always exciting and busy for our teams and communities," a Costco spokesperson told The Daily Commercial. "Because of this high level of excitement, we do not have any festivities, and the ribbon cutting is a very concise and quick process."
Here's what to know.
Where is the new Costco in Florida?
The Villages Costco will be at 675 Tatonka Terrace in the Buffalo Ridge Shopping Plaza next to County Road 466. 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.
The Villages, the largest adult community in the United States, spreads across Sumter, Lake and Marion counties and six ZIP codes and was named the nation's fastest-growing metro area according to the most recent U.S. Census data and the safest place to live in Florida.
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When is the Costco in The Villages opening?
Doors open at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 6.
Normal hours will be:
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
What time does Costco open for executive members?
As of the end of June, executive members get to go inside and shop an hour earlier on weekday and Sunday mornings and an extra half-hour earlier on Saturdays.
Do you have to be a member to shop at Costco?
Yes, most of the time. There are two levels of membership:
Gold Star membership: $65 a year, includes two cards for you and someone in your household
Executive membership: $130 a year, includes two membership cards, 2% back on eligible purchases (up to $1,250), discounts on select services, and now early entry and a monthly $10 credit for orders of $150 placed through the company's "Same-Day" service or Instacart
Business memberships are also available for the same prices, with the option of allowing buyers to purchase for resale and add additional people to the account for $65 each.
According to the spokesperson, the new Villages Costco will offer a membership incentive to new members signing up for the first time or for people whose memberships have been expired for at least 18 months. The offer will be on the website before opening, although a time frame has not been announced.
Memberships are not required to buy Costco Pharmacy prescriptions online or in-store; non-members can get eye exams but can't buy glasses or contacts.
Anyone can shop at costco.com, but there is a 5% surcharge for non-members and some items are limited to members only. You can also shop without a membership if you have a Shop Card, a prepaid Costco gift card which must be purchased by a member.
Costco not the only discount store opening in August
If you like discount pricing but don't have room for bulk purchases, the no-frills grocery chain Aldi is spreading quickly across the state. Two locations just opened July 31 in Port Orange and St. Cloud, and on Aug. 14 there will be grand openings in Bushnell, Jacksonville, Lehigh Acres, New Port Richey, Orlando and Tampa, according to the company's website.
Where can I find a Costco near me in Florida?
As of Aug. 1, there are 35 Costco locations in Florida, including the new one in The Villages. You can see the list here.
The last one opened in Stuart in April. Another new Costco is reportedly coming to Sanford, and talks are in the works for more potential spots, including Port St. Lucie, Pensacola and Miami.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Costco location opening in The Villages in Florida in August
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