Costco to open in spring

Costco officials said Tuesday the Carson City warehouse store will not open until spring 2001.

Costco Wholesale chairman Jeff Brotman said Tuesday the company plans to open the new warehouse at the end of March. The company had planned to open the store the fall. A sign at the construction site still touts a fall opening.

More information was not available Tuesday as to why the store won't be opening this fall.

City Manager John Berkich said he is still believes the store will open this fall. He hasn't seen the March opening date in writing and is waiting for official word from Costco officials.

"Obviously, we're still hoping for a fall opening date," Berkich said. "The project is ahead of schedule. As these projects move, the scheduling is fluid. With this one ahead of schedule, we hope it would be considered for the fall."

The quicker Costco opens, the quicker sales from the store can help resuscitate the flow of sales tax dollars to city coffers. The store could generate an estimated $1.2 million a year in sales tax revenue.

Supervisor Robin Williamson said a March opening would contradict other dates she has heard.

"Hopefully, they'll change their mind," she said. "If not, we'll deal with it. As long as they're here and building and everything is going well, we'll take them any time, the sooner the better. Whenever they're coming, we'll have the welcome mat out for them."

Plans call for a 148,385 square-foot warehouse with 749 parking spaces and a six-pump gas station across Clear Creek Road from Fuji Park.

The warehouse is being built on about 16 acres of land the city sold to Costco for $3,679,632. After costs for site improvements, the city made $2.1 million on the deal.

While city supervisors haven't made a decision what they will do with the money, supervisors have previously supported the idea of using the money to make improvements to Costco neighbor, Fuji Park and the Carson City Fairgrounds.

The future of the fairgrounds and Fuji Park was thrust into public view in when city supervisors added the land to the city's redevelopment district. The move allowed the city to deal with one entity rather than going through the public bid process for the land.

The city began in December 1999 publicly negotiating to bring Costco to the capital. Escrow on the Costco property closed July 25.