Auburn. Costco to open this week

Costco, the world’s eighth-largest retailer, plans to open its first Sydney outlet, a 13,5000-square-metre store on Parramatta Road, Auburn, on July 21. The site will include the head office of the USA-based company, which has an outlet in Melbourne and one nearing completion near Canberra airport, with plans for Queensland and South Australia.

Auburn. Costco expects sales of $97.5m

The US-based Costco Wholesale Corporation, which is building its $60 million Australian HQ and first Sydney warehouse, on Parramatta Road, Auburn, expects first year total sales for the store of $97.5 million with an average of $155 per visit. The store will provide 230 on-going jobs and the construction provides 130 jobs. About 800 parking spaces will be available

Auburn. An emerging location for business

The NSW Government’s approval of the concept plan for US discount retail giant Costco’s $58 million warehouse and national headquarters cements Auburn as an important emerging location for business, said Premier Kristine Keneally. “It is part of the Auburn Council’s strategic vision to revitalise this area as a large format retail precinct and will help council as it finalises its local environment plan,” she said. The project includes a three-storey development, more than 13,700 square metres of gross floor area (GFA) for a retail warehouse, nearly 2000 square metres of commercial office GFA for the headquarters and 745 car parking spaces. The project has the potential to support 130 jobs during construction and around 230 on-going jobs. The store will be open 12 hours a day and is expected to make $90 million in sales in the first year. UNSW associate professor, Professor Frank Zumbo said in the Daily Telegraph that Costco "would suck customers into Auburn, away from other shopping centres".

Auburn. Changes in Parramatta Rd corridor

US discount retailer, Costco, has argued that the Parramatta Road corridor was evolving into a “large-format retail destination” in its application to build a $60 million outlet on Parramatta Road, at Auburn. Approval by the Department of Planning (DOP) could signal a significant change in the way the state government assesses major retail projects, said The Australian Financial Review. Costco premises appear more like a bulk goods centre rather that a straightforward retail operation. Objections by major shopping centre owners said the project did not comply with planning restrictions in the area. A decision by the DOP is imminent the paper said.