Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella is optimistic that ongoing negotiations between the Mall at Whitney Field’s owner, Georgia-based Hull Property Group, and Costco Wholesale could bring the retail giant to the city. “We’re hopeful and doing everything on our end to assist,” Mazzarella stated. The discussions aim to establish Costco’s eighth warehouse in Massachusetts, with Leominster being considered an ideal location due to its central position. Currently, six of Costco’s seven Massachusetts outlets are in the eastern part of the state, with only one in the west.
Since acquiring the Mall at Whitney Field in December 2019, Hull Property Group has worked to revitalize the property by tailoring its tenant mix to the local market. A Costco warehouse would significantly enhance this effort. Mazzarella emphasized that Costco’s unique business model, including its pricing, quality, and customer service, would attract shoppers and benefit other retailers in the mall and the broader city.
The proposed development would repurpose spaces left vacant by former tenants like Sears and Filene’s Basement, while existing stores such as JC Penny and Burlington would remain. Additionally, a new gas station would be constructed on-site. Mazzarella described the mall as “the most valuable property” in Leominster due to its proximity to major highways.
The potential arrival of Costco comes at a crucial time for municipalities facing rising costs and funding cuts. “Costs have gone up: trash, transporting kids, health insurance. Prices increased during COVID-19 and they haven’t come back down,” Mazzarella noted. Costco’s expansion plans, which include opening 28 new U.S. locations this year, contrast sharply with the struggles of many retailers amid widespread bankruptcies and closures.
As of August 2024, Costco ranks as the world’s largest retailer of beef, poultry, organic produce, and wine, with nearly a third of American consumers shopping there regularly. It is also the third-largest retailer globally by revenue, behind only Walmart and Amazon.
— new from Lowell Sun