CEDAR PARK – The 1890 Ranch shopping center may not have any
plats left for new construction, but that hasn’t slowed retail
development announcements.

Earlier this month, Walmart announced plans for a new super
center and an estimated 300 new jobs is planned for the northwest
corner of RR 1431 and Parmer Lane. The announcement was soon
followed by news that warehouse club Costco, the nation’s third
largest retailer, will open a new store on the northwest corner of
RR 1431 and 183 A Toll.

Costco officials said in a telephone interview Monday that the
warehouse would employ between 300 and 400 people with about half
of those new jobs being full-time.

Cedar Park Economic Development Director Phil Brewer said the
city is excited about the recent announcement which has been a long
time coming and will help bring in even more satellite businesses
around the warehouse.

“City representatives have met with Costco officials a number of
times over the last four years to talk with them about expanding to
Cedar Park,” he said. “The expansion of Costco to the Town Center
project on the northwest corner of Whitestone and 183A will have a
positive influence on other retailers and restaurants considering
the area.

Dave Messner, vice president of real estate for Costco, said the
new Cedar Park warehouse will probably be about 150,000 square feet
and will also feature a fuel station.

“We think it’s a great market for Costco,” Messner said.

Because it is still early in the planning process, Mesner said
he did not have a precise construction timeline or opening date,
but he said he hopes the store will be open either late next year
or by early 2013.

Currently, Costco has a store a few miles south in Austin’s
Arboretum area. Another store is located in the southwest part of
Austin.

According to the Costco company website, individual and business
memberships cost $55 annually. An executive membership, which
boasts a 2-percent reward each year is also available for $110 a
year.