Camarillo residents will soon have a new option for bulk shopping, as the city's much-anticipated Costco Wholesale outpost is scheduled to open its doors on October 30. The new warehouse, located on West Ventura Boulevard between Highway 101 and the Camarillo Airport, brings a 160,000-square-foot facility to the community after years of development and legal disputes.
Costco’s director of real estate development, Michael Okuma, confirmed the opening date. The new location will include standard Costco features such as a food court, bakery, pharmacy, optical center, hearing aid center, and a tire service center. It also promises a wider product selection, with items like sushi that are not typically available at some of the older, smaller warehouses in the region. For those looking to fill up, a 32-pump gas station on site has already been operational since May, and the entire facility boasts over 877 parking spots.
The path to this opening hasn't been without its share of bumps. The Camarillo Planning Commission initially approved the project in 2023, with an expected opening in 2024. However, progress was halted when a local group, Ventura County Citizens Against Mega Gas, filed a lawsuit against the city in 2024. The group alleged that the city had not conducted a proper environmental review for the development. A Ventura County Superior Court judge initially ruled in favor of the city, but the citizens’ group pursued an appeal. The legal battle finally concluded “earlier this year” when an appeals court upheld the lower court's decision, siding with the city. Ventura County Citizens Against Mega Gas did not respond to a request for comment.
City officials have welcomed the resolution and the impending opening. Camarillo City Manager Greg Ramirez issued a statement following the ruling, calling it “a tremendous win for Camarillo.” Ramirez expressed enthusiasm for welcoming Costco, highlighting the “persistence and dedication” that made it possible, and noting that the warehouse is expected to strengthen the local economy, create new jobs, and provide shopping convenience for residents, marking it as a “milestone moment” for the city. Georg Winkler, Camarillo’s economic and business development manager, added that the community is “hearing nothing but excitement in the community” and that residents are looking forward to shopping there and changing their weekend routines.
For years, bulk shoppers from Camarillo have often driven to neighboring cities like Oxnard, Simi Valley, and Westlake to access a Costco. The Oxnard location, for instance, is only about five miles away. Winkler believes the new store will help keep Camarillo residents shopping within their own city, reducing what he called “retail leakage.” An additional draw for shoppers is Camarillo's relatively lower sales tax rate of 7.25%, compared to Oxnard's 9.25%. This local convenience and potential for savings come at a time when many shoppers are increasingly seeking ways to stretch their dollars amidst economic anxieties, a trend that has seen discount retailers generally perform strongly.
Despite the widespread excitement, not everyone in the community is entirely thrilled. Joan Handzel, an 86-year-old resident who lives near the new warehouse on Springville, expressed concerns about the potential for increased traffic in her neighborhood. Handzel had signed on to the lawsuit against the city and Costco due to these worries. While she acknowledged that most of her neighbors are now excited about the shopping prospects, she worries that traffic on Ventura Boulevard “is going to be packed.” She added that she doesn't believe the full extent of traffic impact has been anticipated.
With the legal hurdles cleared and construction complete, Camarillo’s new Costco is poised to open its doors on October 30, promising local convenience and new shopping opportunities for residents who have been waiting for years.