Is Upstate New York, the land of Wegmans, becoming more fertile ground for rival grocery stores?
PriceRite has moved into the Rochester, Syracuse and Buffalo markets over the past five years. Trader Joe’s recently opened its first Upstate store in Rochester. Now there’s word Costco is about to open its first store north of the New York City region in Syracuse.
The Costco would go in a large retail, housing and entertainment complex in the suburb of Camillus. The Syracuse Post Standard reports:
(Developer) Cameron is telling the town — and The Post-Standard — that they still need to wrap some loose ends up for that particular, mysterious tenant. They are telling town council and board members it is a “large national retailer” — 144,000-square-feet — that’s not in Upstate New York and that retailer has a gas island.
Since the other two non-supermarket large national retailers with gas islands — B.J.’s Wholesale Club and Sam’s Club — are already Upstate, the town is left to do the math.
Costco isn’t talking… much.
“Unfortunately, it’s our corporate policy not to comment on specific markets,” a spokeswoman said recently from Costco’s corporate headquarters in Issaquah, Wash.
Costco’s website says it has 612 “warehouses,” most in the United States. The stores average 143,000 square feet, which is larger than the Pittsford Wegmans. Shoppers must be members, who pay a $55 fee. Costco offers private-label brands, typical grocery store fare, electronics and automotive services.
If Costco is moving to Syracuse, does this mean the mega-chain might take a look west down the Thruway?