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Costco Gets Final County Approval For Nine Mile Road Store
August 20, 2025
The Escambia County Development Review Committee (DRC) on Wednesday afternoon granted approval for a new Costco store on Nine Mile Road.
The first conceptual plans were filed back in June 2024 for a Costco at 225 East Nine Mile Road, the site of a Planet Fitness that will be moving soon and a previous Kmart store.
Since that time, additional plans have been filed in response to DRC feedback, with approval finally granted Tuesday afternoon.
How long does it take to build a Costco?
The architectural firm MG2, which has partnered with Costco for 30 years on over 780 locations, says it takes under four months to build a new store.
“Costco Wholesale has set the bar by creating and maintaining the platinum standard in optimized rollouts: It takes just 110 days from the time construction begins to the moment doors open to their members” MG2 said. That means a new Pensacola Costco, if approved, could potentially open by the end of the year if construction beings soon.
But construction won’t start until the existing building is demolished, sometime after Planet Fitness moves.
What do the latest plans show?
The latest plans filed with Escambia County show the 172,580 square foot Costco retail store with a gas station and 830 parking spaces at 225 East Nine Mile Road, at the corner of East Nine Mile Road and Chemstrand Road. That’s the site of the current Planet Fitness and a former Kmart store. It’s several parcels totaling just under 22 acres.
The plans show the existing Dairy Queen, Sam’s Seafood Restaurant and Wells Fargo to remain, with a Costco gas station constructed between Sam’s Seafood and Wells Fargo in an area that is currently a parking area for the old shopping center. The current Planet Fitness building will be demolished to make room for the new Costco if it’s approved.
What happens to Planet Fitness?
Planet Fitness and the rest of the old shopping center will be demolished. As we previously reported on July 1, a new Planet Fitness is under construction at 312 East Nine Mile Road, next door to Aldi. It is in the remainder of a former Winn Dixie grocery store space that was converted into an Aldi with a smaller footprint, which opened in March.
At last report, the fitness center is planning an early September opening.
What is currently the nearest Costco to Pensacola?
The nearest currently open Costco to Pensacola is in Mobile, Alabama.
How much is a Costco membership?
Membership is required for in-store shoppers at Costco. Members must be 16 or older to apply. The pharmacy is open to anyone, regardless of membership.
Costco offers two levels of membership for individuals or businesses:
Executive $130 annually
- Annual 2% Reward
- Costco Services Discounts
- Shop Online and in Warehouses
- Includes 2 Membership Cards
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Gold Star $65 annually
- Shop Online and in Warehouses
- Includes 2 Membership Cards
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Businesses can purchase either level to purchase items for resale or add additional people at $65 each.
Pictured top: The Costco in Montgomery, Alabama, earlier this year. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Comments
15 Responses to “Costco Gets Final County Approval For Nine Mile Road Store”
FYI. I’ve been a Costco member since 1991, 2 yrs after they came to Hawaii. I decided to leave my home state in 2022.Before I left Hawaii I contacted Craig Jelinik the current CEO (head honcho) to ask when they might be building a COSTCO in the general area. I live in SRB about 1 1/4 hrs from PNS. The only COSTCO’s that exist are Mobile, and Tallahassee. I go to T’hasse a few times a year. It’s a 5 hr Roundtrip! I have been in touch with the Costco man who is in charge of land acquisition. This has been a long road for me to finally see that the County has approved the permit.
so those of you complaining, stop. This traffic is ALL OVER and nowhere is immune to it. it’s life. Find a little backwater and move there if this is too much for you.
I WILL BE THERE WHEN THIS STORE OPENS!! They opened a new one Aug 5 in The Villages.My guy ‘’friend’’, moved from P’cola in May to The Villages…too bad for me, now it will be a day trip and not an overnight stay with him and shop!! Thank you COSTCO! NOW please, one in the desert between P’cola and T’hassee. WOO HOO!!1
I’m happy to see the Costco on this side of town. I like Sam’s club, but it’s in a very congested area. Besides, I think Costco is better. To the people complaining about the traffic…..Do you want another apartment complex to be built on the property? Most households own multiple cars. Traffic is bad because of the new neighborhoods and large apartment complexes on 9 Mile Road.
I remember in that shopping center…Moulton’s Drugs, Winn Dixie, and West Bros. (Before KMart)
I don’t care who’s not happy about it I’m happy about it and that’s all that matters.
I’m from here born and raised Sacred Heart Hospital 69 . I remember going here in the 70’s with my mom. They had a popcorn machine close to the front you could smell it when you came in.
I for one am happy Pensacola is getting a Costco. All those complaining about traffic on 9 Mile Road have to understand that it (traffic increase) is happening all over Escambia County. Pensacola is not some sleepy little town. I get that people do not like traffic congestion but it comes with the territory of growth. It will also bring much needed jobs to the area, too. 9 Mile has always been heavy with traffic and congestion and it will surely continue to happen (with or without Costco) because it is a main artery (like Davis, Michigan/Brent Lane, Fairfield, etc). More building of residential neighborhoods and the like will also contribute to it all.
Anyone not wanting Costco on 9 Mile because of traffic – where would you suggest it go? Anywhere it goes is going to have traffic! It just sounds more like the NIMBY crowd (“not in my back yard”)…. if you’re wanting a sleepy little town with hardly any traffic, you may be better off selling and relocating to somewhere that’s not a popular destination for tourists, vacationers, retirees, military families, etc.
9 mile road is too congested. This is going to make things 10x worse. Attached to the bid for the land and plans should be Costco’s investment to widen roads in the area leading to the store.
These companies are making billions off of us, conveniently inconviencing us. The least they could do is invest in the infrastructure surrounding their businesses.
@Flo- Luckily for us and the Truckers, the Contractor and Draftsman already thought of where the 18-wheelers will have to unload their cargo, and put the delivery stalls RIGHT IN THE FRONT-to the side of any main entrances, but with plenty of room for them to maneuver.
@Mandy it’s nowhere as bad as Airport Blvd. by Sams there’s a school zone on top of that location so the two are definitely not comparable. On top of that part of the heavy traffic flow on Nine Mile currently is increased due to drivers avoiding the heavily congested interstate caused by multiple construction projects being done all at one time.
We need this Costco, and it is a fantastic location for one. We need the Costco because they are an excellent employer by multiple counts the CEO is the same one that refused to raise the price of prepared food items in their cafe. They pay their employees well above minimum wage as well.
The location is perfect; there was already a large lot with an aging building/strip mall. With Planet Fitness moving out it would not have been long before this became another storage unit or God forbid yet another car wash. The infrastructure to handle any increased traffic flow is already in place there are lights at Chemstrand and Nine mile and a light at Holsberry and Nine mile. The county just resurfaced put in streetlights and sidewalks on Holsberry as well as added drainage
This will be good for us you’ll see and another option other than bogging through Airport Blvd traffic just to get a deal on paper towels yes please hurry!!
I’m sure those people on Greenridge aren’t thrilled about having a retention pond next to their backyards. It could be worse though, they could be building housing projects.
Not happy about this. Nine Mile is congested enough, and at Chemstrand Rd. it is already a cluster without adding Costco to the mix. Yes, it will be convenient for those in the north end of the county. But what about the inconvenience it’s going to cause for those of us who live in the area and have to travel Nine Mile Rd every day? Nine Mile Rd is turning into Davis Hwy.
Nine Mile cannot handle any more traffic! Already too many people on Nine Mile. Worse than Davis Hwy!!!!
Glad the DRC approved it . No more driving for goodies to Davis and Airport in a few months. Thanks North Escambia for the follow up , and news coverage .
I’m ready for it but 9 mile isn’t. Somebody needs to have a come to Jesus meeting at FDOT and start planning. This Costco will draw people from Ft. Walton/ Crestview, South Alabama, even Baldwin because they dont want to deal with the tunnel. This store is going to pull a ton of traffic. Start planning to 6 lane it and prepare for gridlock. That all be said I am still ready for it.
I am very excited for those who live in the north end of Escambia County. I lived there for 33 years in Barrineau Park. When I moved out there, there were hardly anything available for shopping. I am glad to see Costco go into 9 Mile Rd. That will be very beneficial to those who live near or north of 9 mile Road. My big concern is what will it do for the bank and the two eateries there at the same site as Costco. I don’t feel 830 parking spots will be enough to accommodate Costco. Another thought that I have is how are the 18 wheelers going to make deliveries?
Bottom line, I am very excited for those who live near or north of 9 Mile Rd. Another plus how many jobs will be needed for the new Costco? Definitely a boost for Escambia County.