Hundreds wait in line as Costco in Brantford finally opens its doors

The wait is over.  

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Shoppers who’ve had their hopes dashed for years as planning snags held up the coming of their favourite retailer finally got to push their carts on Friday into the mecca of merchandise. 

Costco Brantford has opened its doors! 

Scott McCaw arrived at 1:30 a.m. and waited in the cold in anticipation of the official store opening at 7. By 6 a.m., he was inside the store entranceway with several hundred other eager shoppers wielding carts and coupons.  

“I wanted to be here because it’s new and exciting,” said McCaw, who lives in Brantford. 

Latecomer Sheri Winchester arrived at the store at 3:30 a.m. thinking she’d be the first one in line. There’s lots she’s looking forward to with a Costco close to home. 

“I love the $1.50 hotdogs,” said Winchester. “Now I can come and get one on my lunch break. My grandson is a big fan of the pizza. And the rotisserie chickens better be $5 today.” 

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Shoppers Jackie Pye (left), Dawn Haney, Sheri Winchester and Brenda Bridgewater were among the first shoppers at Costco in Brantford, which officially opened on Friday. Photo by MICHELLE RUBY /Brantford Expositor

Dawn Haney also braved the cold to be among the first to get a glimpse inside the 160,000-square-foot warehouse where merchandise was perfectly stacked and employees happily handed out samples of chewing gum, protein bars, cat treats and other freebies.  

“It’s exciting to see something big like this in Brantford,” said Haney. “I never thought it would happen.” 

The arrival of Costco in the city has been discussed for two decades. In 2015, Brantford was finally on a list of potential store sites. The original plan was to build on a plot of land on Morton Avenue and Wayne Gretzky Parkway but that was stalled over high-traffic concerns.  

Four years ago, the Ministry of Transportation finally backed the plans for the site beside the Lynden Park Mall. Those plans were revised and then re-revised prior to the completion of infrastructure work to service the property between the mall and highway, and to widen roads into the mall.  

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Finally, despite repeated refusals from Costco Canada to confirm the project, the city issued a building permit on the last day of March 2023 for a $33.5-million project confirmed to be the retail giant. 

“You wouldn’t believe all the things that had to happen behind the scenes over the past six years,” said Mayor Kevin Davis, who joined other local politicians for the official ribbon cutting. “But who cares now.” 

Accompanied by his wife, Lisa, Davis said their shopping list included striploin steak, a giant pie, and “146 rolls of toilet paper.” 

“Let’s rock and roll,” Davis yelled to the waiting crowd. 

The Brantford store, located at 175 Roy Blvd. off Wayne Gretzky Parkway, is the 41st Costco location in Ontario. It created 180 permanent and 80 seasonal jobs. 

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“With the opening of this new warehouse, we can serve all our members in the Brantford and surrounding area, many of whom previously travelled to Ancaster to shop,” said Gino Dorico, senior vice-president and country manager of Costco Wholesale Canada. 

The store includes an on-site bakery and fresh meat and produce. It is the first location in Ontario to have a sushi department. The store also has optical and hearing aid centres, five tire centre bays, a food court, a gas station with 24 pumps, and a pharmacy. 

Justine Cvetas, a supervisor who transferred from the Burlington Costco to the new Brantford store, stood among the crowd on Friday. 

“I just love the whole atmosphere of opening a new building,” she said. “It’s the whole buzz. Brantford people are so ecstatic about it. It has been a warm welcome, for sure.” 

Several hundred eager shoppers got up early on Friday for a chance to be among the first inside the new Costco store on Roy Boulevard in Brantford. Photo by MICHELLE RUBY /Brantford Expositor

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