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“I think we definitely need a second Costco,” said Tulare resident Melinda Gonzales.
No matter the location, a full parking lot and lines to get in are not a rare sight. “Busy, busy,” said resident Kimberly Mendez.
The second store brings hope to residents that it will ease congestion at the first location and shorten the drive for those living in the surrounding areas.
“Some people who sit on the north side of Visalia say it’s faster to go to the Costco in Hanford than get to the one on the other side of town. Everyone’s very excited because there’s not much commercial activity in the northwest quadrant,” said Visalia City Councilman Brian Poochigian.
Just adjacent to the Costco is a housing community in the works called Carleton Acres. “They really put together a really good development. And this will be schools around their houses, around there, and places for those individuals to shop,” Poochigian added.
To support that growth, Poochigian says they’re actively expanding the surrounding infrastructure. “We really took a look at Riggen as one of the major roadways in the City of Visalia. So, we want to make sure that we could develop it so it could handle the oncoming traffic that will be coming,” he shared.
The Shirk Capacity Enhancement Project, which started back in March, will widen the road, add streetlights, and install sewer and storm drain lines, among other things. “Visalia has always prided ourselves on smart development,” Poochigian said.
While the city is growing, so is Costco. Just this month, the big box store opened seven new stores across the country, and four more are set to open in October. The new Costco in Visalia is expected to open by the middle of 2026.
In the meantime, the community is excited, waiting for the grand opening, which Poochigian says will bring something new that the first location doesn’t have. “I believe it will have also a car wash there, too.”
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