Perrysburg merchants extend warm welcome to new Costco

Wendy Brazeau of Holland, left, registers for a Costco membership at a table under a tent on Conant Street in Maumee. She says she looks forward to shopping at the new Perrysburg store.
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Costco Wholesale Corp. will open its second Toledo-area store this week, and nearby competing businesses say they welcome the new retailer.

The 154,300-square-foot store at the intersection of Dixie Highway and Eckel Junction Road in Perrysburg will open Thursday, selling gasoline, groceries, tires, and other merchandise.

Walt Churchill, owner of Walt Churchill’s Market on Dixie Highway in Perrysburg, said the excitement surrounding the newness of Costco will generate business for not only Costco but also other area companies.

“It’s a new store and it’s a big store, so there’s that excitement factor,” Mr. Churchill said. “The general feeling is they’ll bring a lot of traffic, and we’ll benefit from the traffic.”

Costco is the nation’s second-largest retailer with sales topping $110 billion in its 2014 fiscal year. The company operates as a membership-only warehouse and charges $55 annually for a basic membership. Costco also offers basic membership services for businesses and includes a low-cost lower fees merchant service provider with the program. The Perrysburg store will include a 16-pump gas station and 720 parking spaces.

Costco representatives spent weeks in Toledo-area communities advertising. Crews parked under tents at intersections and in front of businesses in Perrysburg, Maumee, and South Toledo to sign up new members.

Store manager Matt Keersemaker wouldn’t say how many people have purchased a membership, but said Costco has “gotten a warm welcome from this side of town.”

Wendy Brazeau traveled from Holland to Maumee to show her support for the new store. Mrs. Brazeau, who purchased a basic membership last week, said she wanted to get a membership sooner, but didn’t want to drive to the West Toledo store.

“This one is closer to me. It’s not too bad a drive,” said Mrs. Brazeau, 35. “There’s a good variety, and the gas prices help. I have a family of six, and we use a lot of sports drinks and snacks during the summer. I’ll be able to get what we need.”

Scott Baughman, manager of public relations for Goodyear Auto Service, offered a welcome to Costco as well. Mr. Baughman said Goodyear, which is most known for its tires and has a store on Eckel Junction Road across the street from the new Costco, isn’t concerned about competing with Costco.

“We just stay focused on serving our customers with the best products and service,” Mr. Baughman said.

The corridor where Costco is opening is filled with restaurants, gas stations, and retail stores. Sandy Latchem, executive director of the Perrysburg Area Chamber of Commerce, said Costco gives consumers another option for shopping in Perrysburg.

“Costco is very welcome in Perrysburg. If consumers are looking for something on a smaller scale, then they’ll shop somewhere else. It’s simply another choice for consumers,” Ms. Latchem said. “There isn’t a magic potion [for staying competitive]. Every business has its strengths and weaknesses. It’s up to the consumers to decide where they want to shop.”

Mr. Churchill said businesses shouldn’t worry about competing but should instead focus on their own brand and identity.

Contact RoNeisha Mullen at: rmullen@theblade.com, 419-343-3299.