Costco gas bar now open in Niagara Falls
Enthusiasm is building as warehouse scheduled to open on Nov. 13
With the opening of its gas bar last week, buzz is building for the opening of the new Costco in Niagara Falls in less than two weeks.
The 13,500- square- metre store is set to open Nov. 13 at the site of the former Niagara Square mall on Montrose Road, replacing the St. Catharines location which will become a Costco Business Centre. The St. Catharines location did not have a gas bar.
Costco members quickly shared photos of the new pumps online when they opened Oct. 26, selling gas at under 90 centres a litre.
For Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati, the Costco is especially satisfying since Niagara Falls missed its chance to have one nearly 30 years ago.
Back when it was known as Price Club, the company wanted to open a Niagara Falls warehouse, but city council yielded to concerns from some grocery stores about potential loss of jobs.
It instead opened in St. Catharines near the Fairview Mall in 1993.
“Council in the day sent them away with pressure from our local retailers,” said Diodati.
“It’s funny, most of those retailers are long gone. A&P, Dominion, Safeway, all those stores.”
Diodati said there were similar concerns about Niagara Square opening in the late ’70s, and finds it fitting Costco will now occupy the same property.
“(Niagara Square) was 30 years ahead of its time. It opened up in the south part of the city where all the growth was to take place. It’s ironic those two 30-year windows converge to bring Costco to Niagara Square.
“There’s huge renewed interest in expansions and new additions to that shopping node.”
Diodati expects Costco shoppers to have a much easier time accessing the Niagara Falls location, especially during the busy Christmas season.
“The traffic and parking (in St. Catharines) was a nightmare,” he said. “This will be significantly bigger than that store.”
Costco only has gas bars at its larger locations, with prices usually lower than regular gas station prices. Only Costco members can use the service.
Diodati said the gas bar may already be having an effect on the area.
“I don’t know if it’s coincidental or not, but gas prices have already lowered in the city,” he said.
“There’s no doubt it will put downward pressure on gas prices in Niagara Falls.”
Costco did not respond to requests for comment.
Hours of the gas bar are 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.