Heard from a very reliable source that Costco is in the process of buying land at Memorial & Western.

This would be on the south side of the Kilpatrick Turnpike. Not sure if it will be on the east or west side of Western, but the west side seems most likely.


Interesting location as there is a Sams Club just a mile west at Pennsylvania. Obviously, they plan to go toe-to-toe with them.


We've had many discussions about Costco in the past but they are an absolute institution here in California and have a much more loyal following than Sams Club.

This is a long (42 minute) but excellent and interesting feature on Costco by CNBC:

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http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/costco1.jpg

That should be a good location.

YAY! I absolutely detest driving up there but will make an exception for Costco.

Awesome. The sooner they can break ground the better. I can't wait for an alternative to Sam's Club. Then I will be able to be completely Wal-Mart free. Being that its off by itself at Western and Memorial, my guess is it will become an anchor for even more new retail surrounding it.

While I'm glad if we get it, I doubt I ever go up there. Maybe this will bring one to the southside or even off I40. I'd go if one were to open closer.

What is the cost for a Costco membership versus Sam's Club?

There are currently five Sams Clubs in the OKC Metro with a sixth under construction in Edmond.

Hopefully, Costco will be just as aggressive in the market.

I finally went to Costco this weekend and I liked it. Like I said in another thread Sam's may have a better selection on some things but overall I was pretty happy with my experiencs.

I used to think Sam's and Costco were very similar but they are different in many important ways. And it takes a while to fully comprehend.


First of all, they treat their employees very well and it shows. Always a happy, friendly staff with amazing customer service.

Also, Costco private brands many things under their Kirkland label. For example, I breed and raise champion Labradors and I feed them the Kirkland dry food, which is essentially Eukanuba repackaged. Costco charges about $18 for 40 lbs. vs. $50 for Eukanuba.

In fact, just about anything they put the Kirkland label on is very high quality and usually an amazing value. Another odd example is I just had a massive party where I served primarily Kirkland tequila and Kirkland margarita mix. Everyone raved about the drinks.


Sam's has a much better and comprehensive website but otherwise Costco is miles better in just about every other way. Think Target vs. Walmart.

If they expand to south OKC / Moore / Norman, they'd become somewhat attractive. But it's still very rare for me to even go to 23rd anymore, so going to memorial is just not going to be part of a typical week for our house.

I am absolutely sure they will have multiple locations in OKC.

It only makes sense for the size of the market and their need for economies of scale when it comes to their distribution model.

I would say at least three in the near future.

My guess is we'll see a location on Memorial, I-240, Norman, and maybe Midwest City.

What is the cost for a Costco membership versus Sam's Club?

Very similar, although I think Sam's might be slightly cheaper.

Costco has an executive membership where you pay an extra $50 but get money back based on how much you spend. At the end of the year they issue you a store credit for the difference and in some years I've made back my entire membership fee plus over $100.

This new Cosco and the almost complete OnCue Express on the north side of the turnpike will breathe a LOT of life into that old almost rundown intersection.

This new Cosco and the almost complete OnCue Express on the north side of the turnpike will breathe a LOT of life into that old almost rundown intersection. Agree. That vacated run down Phillips 66 on the NE corner that serves as a business that sells nursery plants and flowers needs to face the wrecking ball with something nice in it's place.

Very similar, although I think Sam's might be slightly cheaper.

Costco has an executive membership where you pay an extra $50 but get money back based on how much you spend. At the end of the year they issue you a store credit for the difference and in some years I've made back my entire membership fee plus over $100.

Nice. Sounds kind of like how REI's membership is.

In Southlake they have a Costco and 2 miles down the road in Grapevine they have a Sam's, So it's not that uncommon that they are that close to each other.

I used to think Sam's and Costco were very similar but they are different in many important ways. And it takes a while to fully comprehend.


First of all, they treat their employees very well and it shows. Always a happy, friendly staff with amazing customer service.

Also, Costco private brands many things under their Kirkland label. For example, I breed and raise champion Labradors and I feed them the Kirkland dry food, which is essentially Eukanuba repackaged. Costco charges about $18 for 40 lbs. vs. $50 for Eukanuba.

In fact, just about anything they put the Kirkland label on is very high quality and usually an amazing value. Another odd example is I just had a massive party where I served primarily Kirkland tequila and Kirkland margarita mix. Everyone raved about the drinks.


Sam's has a much better and comprehensive website but otherwise Costco is miles better in just about every other way. Think Target vs. Walmart.

I love them for paying their employees decent wages and benefits. They don't try to squeeze profits out of their lowest-level employees. I'll be quitting Sam's lickety-split when Costco gets here.

My guess is we'll see a location on Memorial, I-240, Norman, and maybe Midwest City.

I would add probably Northwest Expressway. Somewhere on that long stretch from far west to all the way past Penn Square.

It's great to see them wanting to build here despite our alcohol laws. Just think if we could get them changed...

It's great to see them wanting to build here despite our alcohol laws. Just think if we could get them changed...

The COSTCO in my part of Denver sells only 3.2 alcohol so I don't think that's much of an issue for these folks.

You'll see some type of stand alone liquor outlet like they do in other state's with weird alcohol laws

Good for OKC if they get a Costco, Hopefully Cost Plus World Market is next.

If Pete is correct in his reading of this possible location, I am pleased. We always knew that this retailer would select the Memorial Road corridor as a location if it came to OKC. By locating at Western, it has the potential to draw some development east from Penn and across the corridor towards Broadway. This marginally improves the sprawl situation, as it offers the opportunity to fill in some vacant land in that weird little hole between 122nd and Memorial. There's always been some kind of - I don't know - psychological barrier around Penn on the south side of the turnpike. Better here than it being out towards Gallardia or beyond.

There are currently five Sams Clubs in the OKC Metro with a sixth under construction in Edmond.

Hopefully, Costco will be just as aggressive in the market.
There are two in Austin and both have a Sam's within a mile and there are quite a few other Sam's locations in Austin. A few of the newer Costco stores here Denver have a Sam's relatively close.


Very similar, although I think Sam's might be slightly cheaper.

Costco has an executive membership where you pay an extra $50 but get money back based on how much you spend. At the end of the year they issue you a store credit for the difference and in some years I've made back my entire membership fee plus over $100.
We have the Costco Executive and a regular Sam's membership (I think $45.00). When it comes to buy TV's or tires we usually get them at Costco because of the rebate.


The COSTCO in my part of Denver sells only 3.2 alcohol so I don't think that's much of an issue for these folks.

You'll see some type of stand alone liquor outlet like they do in other state's with weird alcohol laws
The ones I have been to in the Denver area (Parker is the closest, Lone Tree, Aurora, Westminster) don't have the leased out adjacent liquor store like the ones in Austin had. As mug stated, they only have 3.2 beer. The ironic thing is the Sam's at Southlands has a similar liquor store arrangement to the Costco stores in Austin but none of the Sam's in Austin have that type of liquor store. I only went into the adjacent liquor store at Costco (they have nothing to do with the liquor store other than leasing out the space to a local operator) once, why bother going there when a Spec's was next to the Sam's at Mopac & Ben White. Both the Sam's in South Austin had a Spec's next door.

...Interesting location as there is a Sams Club just a mile west at Pennsylvania. Obviously, they plan to go toe-to-toe with them.

I understand this concept in terms of cars, drug stores or Mexican Restaurants, but I would not have thought it pertinent in a wholesale club.

http://fmwww.bc.edu/ec-p/wp447.pdf

Regardless, glad they are coming!

"You'll see some type of stand alone liquor outlet like they do in other state's with weird alcohol laws"

Maybe but would more than likely be an independent operator. Liquor stores in Oklahoma have to buy from the local liquor distributor (ie....Central Liquor, etc). Costco would have to convince them to buy their brands wholesale and then buy it back from them thus putting the middleman in there and increasing the cost. If I recall correctly, you can only own one liquor store so would not be able to do it at any other stores they opened in Oklahoma which I think would make it cost prohibitive and a royal pain in the you know what to jump through all the hoops for one location.

Here it is sort of flipped as we have Costco all over the place but only 3 Sam's. The Renton and Auburn Sam's (think Seattle South metro) are both within 2-miles of a Costco, while the third Sam's in N. Seattle proper is by itself as Costco is 5-miles or so away. I am excited for OKC of course and I do hope Costco opens a few locations to challenge Sam's/Wal-Mart there. Hopefully this might lead to a presence of other clubs like BJ's, CWP, and others (by the way, we don't have up here either).

Check out the far-out cool Costco in Vancouver Chinatown, underneath the Stadium SkyTrain station (their metro subway): Costco Vancouver (https://www.google.com/search?q=costco+vancouver+bc+downtown&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=nIgnUtyQCIaZiAKJh4DwBQ&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1038&bih=584#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=OOFC0REKAJVqrM%3A%3BBzzySrx61zmfNM%3Bhttp%25 3A%252F%252Furbanworks.typepad.com%252F.a%252F6a01 0535998712970b0148c74e34e6970c-800wi%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Furbanworks.typepad.com% 252Furbanworks%252F2011%252F01%252Furban-costco.html%3B800%3B534)

All this makes me wonder if they've had their eye on this property all along, and were only waiting on the Kilpatrick Turnpike expansion to finish. Maybe our liquor laws didn't dissuade them from pulling the trigger last year after all.

All this makes me wonder if they've had their eye on this property all along, and were only waiting on the Kilpatrick Turnpike expansion to finish. Maybe our liquor laws didn't dissuade them from pulling the trigger last year after all.

Doubtful. They would have already started construction by now if so.

Doubtful. They would have already started construction by now if so.

I hope if they do build a Costco here that they relax the liquor laws and allow them to sell alcohol as well as prescription eyeglasses.I don't drink, so that part is no big deal to me, but I do wear glasses and saw the coolest ones when we visited a Dallas area store.

"You'll see some type of stand alone liquor outlet like they do in other state's with weird alcohol laws"

Maybe but would more than likely be an independent operator. Liquor stores in Oklahoma have to buy from the local liquor distributor (ie....Central Liquor, etc). Costco would have to convince them to buy their brands wholesale and then buy it back from them thus putting the middleman in there and increasing the cost. If I recall correctly, you can only own one liquor store so would not be able to do it at any other stores they opened in Oklahoma which I think would make it cost prohibitive and a royal pain in the you know what to jump through all the hoops for one location.
The last time that I looked into it you had to be a 10-year resident of Oklahoma at the time of your application to get a license, so it would have to be someone in state. I couldn't get a license until I moved back and lived there for 10 years even though I was born in and lived 37 of my 49 years in Oklahoma. Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and King Soupers only have one location with anything other then 3.2 beer since they have no in state requirement but do have the one license limitation. In Texas you can have up to five and can pool family members licenses into a large group, that is how Spec's and Twin Liquors operates. The Costco liquor stores in the Austin area are independent operators, they even operate under different names (printed on the receipt) and only lease space from Costco, since Costco has beer and wine in the main store the attached stores don't carry a large selection of those.

Why are Oklahoma alcohol laws so damn strict??

It isn't just Oklahoma, most states have some weirdness in the laws since they were crafted with wide ranging special interests involved.

It has very little to do with protecting Oklahoma citizens from the dangers of demon rum, but rather protecting the bank accounts of the liquor distributors and the legislators they lobby.

It has very little to do with protecting Oklahoma citizens from the dangers of demon rum, but rather protecting the bank accounts of the liquor distributors and the legislators they lobby.

If people don't like the status quot when it comes to state alcohol laws and want to see them abolished, then they should try bypassing all that political corruption by passing around a petition to get it on the ballot as difficult as it is.

It has very little to do with protecting Oklahoma citizens from the dangers of demon rum, but rather protecting the bank accounts of the liquor distributors and the legislators they lobby.

The last few state questions that involved changes in the liquor laws were defeated by the liquor wholesale industry not the charlie church crowd.

Why are Oklahoma alcohol laws so damn strict??

A combination of liquor distribution corruption, religious fundamentalists, MADD groups, and the fact the Oklahoma constitution was drafted during the height of the dry movement, and was purposely drafted with the intention that the state would be permanently dry. When prohibition was repealed in 1933, much of the country's sentiment was still very anti-alcohol other than 3.2 beer.

During the most recent fight over getting our laws changed it was the vocal state liquor store owners group (claim that it will close down many, locally owned liquor stores) and the more silent but talks-with-their-money liquor distributors. There wasnt much other opposition that I remember.

So are there any updates on the negotiations. Or is this still a liquor law debate.

Liquor laws don't keep companies out. They may have to change what they do and remove some offerings, but they simply flat out dont KEEP them from coming. Aldi and Whole Foods both normally offer wine. Costco is no different. Not that they were a good business model, but Williams flat out didn't sell alcohol at all. And if you were to go check out Creat/WalMart, how much do you thing the beer aisle makes them? I bet it's not much compared to the rest of the store.

There are some inventive ways of doing the whole thing, but that doesn't mean they want to spend the money on it. Look at Aldi, just as an example. Don't read too much into it or try to just make crazy stretch from it. It could just as easily be Crest or Homeland. Aldi has enough parking on their store plots to add a liquor "room" with a seperate entrance/register/etc. Aldi Stoer Liquor #12345. If WalMart/Crest REALLY wanted to sell liqour and not just beer type drinks, one of those small storefronts at the front of the store could EASILY be leased out to a subsidiary. Liqour of Walmart Sore #12345, Liqour of Walmart Store 12346, etc.

I'm not going to pretend to know the ins and outs of the laws, my (probably overly simplisitc) point here is that there are ways to make this work. But there are a great many factors to it that currently make it cost prohibitive. Things like the distance to the nearest park/school/etc.

But all of these stores sell this stuff in other states but it hasn't kept the stores from coming to Oklahoma. If Costo wants to come here, they'll simply do it withouth liqour. That's really the point of my post, granted it's a bit long-winded. All i'm saying is that the liquor laws don't really "keep stores out of the state", even though i think the liqour laws here are a bunch of total B.S.

So are there any updates on the negotiations. Or is this still a liquor law debate.

I haven't heard anything new but these things take time.

I bet we'll get an official announcement in the next month or so.

Does anyone here know generally how fast do Costco stores go up?

Does anyone here know generally how fast do Costco stores go up?

Fast.

They are basically huge concrete boxes with tons of stackable warehouse racks.

Liquor laws don't keep companies out. They may have to change what they do and remove some offerings, but they simply flat out dont KEEP them from coming. Aldi and Whole Foods both normally offer wine. Costco is no different. Not that they were a good business model, but Williams flat out didn't sell alcohol at all. And if you were to go check out Creat/WalMart, how much do you thing the beer aisle makes them? I bet it's not much compared to the rest of the store.

There are some inventive ways of doing the whole thing, but that doesn't mean they want to spend the money on it. Look at Aldi, just as an example. Don't read too much into it or try to just make crazy stretch from it. It could just as easily be Crest or Homeland. Aldi has enough parking on their store plots to add a liquor "room" with a seperate entrance/register/etc. Aldi Stoer Liquor #12345. If WalMart/Crest REALLY wanted to sell liqour and not just beer type drinks, one of those small storefronts at the front of the store could EASILY be leased out to a subsidiary. Liqour of Walmart Sore #12345, Liqour of Walmart Store 12346, etc.

I'm not going to pretend to know the ins and outs of the laws, my (probably overly simplisitc) point here is that there are ways to make this work. But there are a great many factors to it that currently make it cost prohibitive. Things like the distance to the nearest park/school/etc.

But all of these stores sell this stuff in other states but it hasn't kept the stores from coming to Oklahoma. If Costo wants to come here, they'll simply do it withouth liqour. That's really the point of my post, granted it's a bit long-winded. All i'm saying is that the liquor laws don't really "keep stores out of the state", even though i think the liqour laws here are a bunch of total B.S.

I don't necessarily disagree with the idea that they can come in spite of these laws, but clearly when they have to change their preferred way of doing business, it may discourage them. In other words, it could make another location relatively more attractive. We want to be attracting these companies, not giving them reasons to locate elsewhere.

Does anyone here know generally how fast do Costco stores go up?


Usually in about 3-4 month from breaking ground to opening.

Fast.

They are basically huge concrete boxes with tons of stackable warehouse racks.


Usually in about 3-4 month from breaking ground to opening.Wow, ok. I would've thought maybe about a year.

The one in South Austin took about 9 months from groundbreaking. Some of that may have been due to environmental concerns since it is in the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. They have no gas station at that location unlike the ones in North Austin and Selma (just north of San Antonio).

I used to think Sam's and Costco were very similar but they are different in many important ways. And it takes a while to fully comprehend.


First of all, they treat their employees very well and it shows. Always a happy, friendly staff with amazing customer service.

Also, Costco private brands many things under their Kirkland label. For example, I breed and raise champion Labradors and I feed them the Kirkland dry food, which is essentially Eukanuba repackaged. Costco charges about $18 for 40 lbs. vs. $50 for Eukanuba.

In fact, just about anything they put the Kirkland label on is very high quality and usually an amazing value. Another odd example is I just had a massive party where I served primarily Kirkland tequila and Kirkland margarita mix. Everyone raved about the drinks.


Sam's has a much better and comprehensive website but otherwise Costco is miles better in just about every other way. Think Target vs. Walmart.

Good to know that about the dog food. I got several items that were the Kirkland brand and have been happy with all of them.

Good to know that about the dog food. I got several items that were the Kirkland brand and have been happy with all of them.

Almost all the breeders I know on the West Coast feed Kirkland to their dogs.

Costco has a rigorous process for selecting the items for their stores and are even more rigorous about the items they private label.

If you watch the documentary that I posted early in this thread, you'll see that they are very painstaking even about their *toilet paper*, which by the way is excellent and a great value.

At a summer Planning Commission meeting, they closed an utility and drainage easement on this site, owned by Houghton Heights Limited Partnership, but said it was for "new medical office".

Tulsa's efforts to get Costco.

City considers incentives to bring big-box retailers to Tulsa | Tulsa World (http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/City_considers_incentives_to_bring_big_box_retaile rs/20130912_11_0_Cityco588338)

I wonder if Tulsa will convince them to open up there first? I honestly would be surprised if that isn't what ends up happening. It has been almost a year since the last rumor that Costco had selected a Tulsa site.

I never thought I'd see a Nordstrom Rack in Oklahoma, and look what happened :D
We need a Costco asap. I'm so sick of Sam's Club. The one near me has terrible customer service, sparse selection of even the most essentials... even if Tulsa gets one first, I'm willing to drive.

I spoke with a Costco's real estate representative who told me Tulsa will definitely come first. He said they have looked around OKC, but would not commit to saying they are coming here. He said it would be at least 12-18 months.

I spoke with a Costco's real estate representative who told me Tulsa will definitely come first. He said they have looked around OKC, but would not commit to saying they are coming here. He said it would be at least 12-18 months.

This doesn't surprise me. Everything cool comes to Tulsa first.

I wonder if Wal-Mart saturation in OKC has anything to do with making Tulsa a more preferable market for them? I wouldn't think Costco would depend on high concentration of high-income homes like upscale retail does. Maybe it's simply that Tulsa's retail environment is already light years ahead of OKCs.

I grew up in Tulsa and I personally think it has to do having less powerful Suburbs. A retailer could put something in South Tulsa and never consider what about east tulsa, west tulsa, north tulsa. At least in my perspective things in Tulsa are Tulsa centered, while here its all suburb centered. I've lived in OKC for 8 years now and i've met a handful of people through my different employers who have actually lived in OKC schools area.

Think about OKC, the entire city is segregated into different communities centered around the interstate. I35 in norman, I35 for moore, 240 for south okc, bricktown, midwest city I40e, yukon I40w, penn square, kilpatric, broadway extension, and now i35n in edmond.

Where is the proper place to put something new? All of these areas have centers of wealth that arent typically willing to drive 30 minutes to another section of town.

I spoke with a Costco's real estate representative who told me Tulsa will definitely come first. He said they have looked around OKC, but would not commit to saying they are coming here. He said it would be at least 12-18 months. Really??? I am questioning?? this because clearly it states in first post of this thread that Costco is buying land at Memorial and Western. Furthermore, why would they sit on the land for 12-18 months before they build? Who is this Costco representative? Clearly they should already know that the land is being secured in OKC? Sounds rather fishy, lol.

This doesn't surprise me. Everything cool comes to Tulsa first.

I wonder if Wal-Mart saturation in OKC has anything to do with making Tulsa a more preferable market for them? I wouldn't think Costco would depend on high concentration of high-income homes like upscale retail does. Maybe it's simply that Tulsa's retail environment is already light years ahead of OKCs. Can you give us examples of how Tulsa's retail environment is light years ahead? With all due respect, you constantly talk about how OKC is saturated with Wal Mart and complain about the choice selections here. Sometimes I have to question your motives on this thread??

I grew up in Tulsa and I personally think it has to do with the layout of the city being better and having less developed Suburbs. A retailer could put something in South Tulsa and never consider what about east tulsa, west tulsa, north tulsa. At least in my perspective things in Tulsa are Tulsa centered, while here its all suburb centered.

Think about OKC, the entire city is segregated into different communities centered around the interstate. I35 in norman, I35 for moore, 240 for south okc, bricktown, midwest city I40e, yukon I40w, penn square, kilpatric, broadway extension, and now i35n in edmond.

Where is the proper place to put something new? All of these areas have centers of wealth that arent typically willing to drive 30 minutes to another section of town.

You are right. It may be because Tulsa is so much more cohesive its easier for retailers to select a site. OKC really seems like multiple smaller communities rolled into one based off of how spread out it is. I can understand upscale retailers like Saks opting for Tulsa over OKC because of the distribution of wealth is more concentrated, but mid-tier retailers like Costco shouldn't have any issues with a market like OKC. It has to be simply easier to select a site in Tulsa. In OKC, Costco will likely need at least a northside and southside location.