By Anna Gustafson
Costco was expected to join other big box stores like Kohl’s and Century 21 at the Rego Center shopping mall this Thursday, when officials were slated to officially unveil the warehouse that will enable residents to buy discounted items like food and clothes.
“Costco is extremely excited to open our second location serving the Queens borough,” said Adam Self, a warehouse manager at Costco. “Rego Park has long been considered the most popular shopping destination in Queens. We are happy to bring an extension to that dynamic and exciting shopping experience by providing the community with high-quality, great-priced merchandise from electronics to fresh foods.”
The third-largest retailer in the United States, Costco sells a variety of products like produce, meat, dairy, clothing, books, computer software, home appliances and electronics, solar panels, jewelry, tires, furniture and caskets.
The warehouse at Rego Center, at the intersection of Junction Boulevard and 62nd Drive in Rego Park, will have a kosher bakery, an optomical department, a one-hour photo processing center, a pharmacy, a hearing aid center and a food court.
Community Board 6 Chairman Joseph Hennessy said it was important for a supermarket to open in the area because there are few large grocery stores in the neighborhood.
“I hope they employ local people,” Hennessy said. “The major concern is traffic. Hopefully, the Police Department and the DOT will work on making it a smooth operation.”
Community board members had asked the city Department of Transportation to make 62nd Drive a one-way street to alleviate congestion, although Hennessy said DOT officials told him “they’re satisfied with traffic patterns and they’ll continue to monitor it.”
Since Rego Center opened this spring, residents said they have seen an uptick in traffic. Hennessy said it could be a problem during rush hour, since the center is near the entrance for the Long Island Expressway and the Grand Central Parkway.
“Costco will bring a lot of automobiles because people buy a lot of bulk stuff,” Hennessy said. “If it’s successful, it causes problems.”
The Rego Park Costco will be the 15th warehouse in New York and the 569th worldwide. Costco has stores throughout the world, including Canada, Mexico, England, Scotland, Wales, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia and Japan.
Company officials noted they have been recognized for providing their employees with real living wages and using ethical business practices.
Reach reporter Anna Gustafson by e-mail at agustafson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
