Costco's new, larger Bend store is just days away from opening; Members who are keen to try it out

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) Just days away, final work is being completed on Central Oregon's new Costco, and members are excited to check it all out. The new store on Cooley Road is much larger than the previous location at Forum Shopping Center.

The new Costco opens at 8 a.m. Saturday, just 15 hours after the old Northeast Bend store closes at 5 p.m. Friday.

One member told us that they planned to get up at 2am on Saturday just to wait in line.

Warehouse staff tell us they are ready to welcome the community to their new location.

Michael Biven, membership marketer at Costco, told us that rapid growth in Central Oregon led to increased demand in the store – making parking a “nightmare.”

“Hopefully it just adapts to the community since it’s growing so quickly,” Biven said.

More than 400 employees will work at the new store, and Costco says it is still hiring to fill some of those positions.

In addition to the warehouse, the new location has a large gas station with 32 gas pumps, around 300 additional parking spaces and a two-story pharmacy.

Biven said Costco employees are at the new location this week and are offering a special promotion for new member sign-ups through opening day.

The current location is being put up for sale, he said, with the hope that it will be purchased by another retailer in the future.