Costco Unlike Another in the Midwest Opens in Iowa this Week

In September of this year, we shared that Costco was planning to erect another store here in Iowa. The news damn near broke the internet. Clearly, everyone -- at least everyone in Iowa -- loves buying in bulk.

That Costco is set to open this week, Thursday, November 17 at 8 AM with a ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for 7:45. The store will be the fourth one in Iowa and the largest to date at 190,000 square feet.

The new store, located at 4000 NE Spectrum Drive, just east of Interstate 35 in Ankeny, will have a 153,394-square-foot retail warehouse, tire center, and 12 fuel pumps. What sets it apart from the rest of the Costcos here in the midwest, according to the Des Moines Register, is the fact that it will also have a 37,000-square feet distribution center located on-site.

Given the size and operation set to take place in Ankeny, the store needed to hire roughly 300 people before opening its doors. WHO13 reports that they went as far as hosting a recruiting event in Ames to get enough workers before the opening date.

This is what new Assistant Costco Store Manager Christina Peterson said to the Des Moines-based news station:

We’ve hired some students from the school in Ames,  as well as the metro, close in Des Moines metro, we have them coming from all over to come work at this location. Some transferred from West Des Moines I’m one of them, who I transferred from West Moines.

She added that it's highly important to Costco as a company to find the right fit in their employees, as they want to present the best customer experience possible:

I think always hiring is challenging because you’re always looking for people that can provide the customer service. We’re excited to see all of our employees so they’re going be a great part of our family.