Costco's most controversial store ever opens this week
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Costco is about to open a new store, but some residents are not happy about it.

The exclusive organization has revealed its intention to establish 29 new branches across the United States by 2025. The first sales at the latest Stuart, Florida outlet will commence this week.

It opens on Friday, April 25 at 8am.  

The 160,000-square-foot store will rotate more than 4,000 products for Costco card-holding customers. A gas station with 18 pumps will also open on the same day. 

Costco reported a spike in interest with 5,000 nearby residents signing up for memberships.  

‘New openings always have exotic items by the way,’ one Floridian commented on Reddit. ‘Enjoy your hunt.’ 

For Costco, the new Florida store is a product of years of negotiations with neighboring residents who have been worried about increased traffic and environmental degradation.

The company first proposed building the store and more than 300 apartments in the lot close to the city’s high school. 

Thousands of customers have signed up to visit Costco on its first day of operation in Stuart, Florida

Thousands of customers have signed up to visit Costco on its first day of operation in Stuart, Florida

But the proposal was met with immediate opposition: a local resident filed a legal complaint, alleging the city hadn’t completed its due diligence in surveying the traffic and natural wetland impact. 

Initially, a judge agreed with the complaint and halted construction. Then, a state panel led by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis reversed the ruling. 

To appease residents, Costco renamed a nearby access road, provided the city with updated landscaping plans, and added fountains to nearby pond projects. 

But drivers are still nervous. 

‘I’m not going anywhere near there until June,’ another commenter said about the store on Reddit. ‘The traffic is going to be gnarly.’ 

Costco didn’t immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment. 

The Empire Expands

A handful of new Costco warehouses have popped up across the US this year. 

Shoppers will likely dash to the store for its April 25th opening at 8am

Shoppers will likely dash to the store for its April 25th opening at 8am

Residents have been worried about the traffic and environmental impact, especially from the company's low-cost, popular gas stations

Residents have been worried about the traffic and environmental impact, especially from the company’s low-cost, popular gas stations 

Costco has been expanding across the US after posting banner sales years - Wall Street expects the brand will keep up its momentum

Costco has been expanding across the US after posting banner sales years – Wall Street expects the brand will keep up its momentum 

After years of banner sales, the big-box store is ramping up its store count. It recently reached over 900 stores in its global portfolio.

Costco reported an 8.2 percent spike in sales in the year’s first quarter, including a 6.6 percent increase in U.S. sales.

Wall Street predicts the company will keep its hot sales alive in the next earnings call, too, including a predicted seven percent revenue increase in the current quarter.

The comes even after the company’s recent price adjustments. 

In September, the stores announced that annual memberships now run $65 for US Gold Star Members, up $5. Executive memberships rose to $130 after selling for $120. 

It was the first time the brand changed its membership prices in seven years. 

But still, the ever-popular stores have made a series of changes to bring even more sales this year. 

For example, Costco recently announced it would expand access for its gas stations, keeping thousands of pumps operating after their corresponding warehouses close for the night. 

The company now has over 600 locations across the US. 

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