Costco Breaks Ground on West. St. Paul Store

Costco waited years to invest in Winnipeg and surrounding area. Even as it prospered for the stores, it just seemed the announcement of a new store never came. That is not to say that upgrades didn't happen to their other properties in the city but their CEO years ago in a visit said the plan was for at least one more store. Perhaps Covid was the problem. Who can say. Even now, Manitoba is still emerging from the slowdown.

Now, in 2026, the Headingley Costco is complete and prospering and the Costco at St. James Polo Park has been completely renovated to a Business Centre. And now ground has broken on Costco West St. Paul inside the Perimeter Highway off of Main Street. For many, it still feels like it is Winnipeg although it is a few streets past it. The new 162,000 square foot store will be comparable to Headingley and include a gas station. A McDonald's is already up and running on the corner nearby.

The American owned Costco is very popular in Canada despite membership requirements. The price leading gas prices and tire store affects prices regionally wherever they have a location. St. James and Headingley has seen those prices change all along Portage Avenue. It also caused massive upgrades to competing grocery stores that were getting a little dowdy.

It will take till August 2027 for the West St. Paul Costco to be complete. It has already attracted an ethnic food grocery store to be nearby. Jagjit Gill says his family will be opening their fourth location in the city. Gill Supermarket will be 10,000 square feet and cater to the growing community in the surrounding area.

The entire development is overseen by United Equites Group, a family owned Winnipeg company largely responsible for the revitalization start in the Exchange District. The Nathanson/Greenspoon family has experience an incubator for other businesses to succeed. The sum part of this development is an increase in housing, commercial development and infill inside The Perimeter Highway.

Competition comes from many choices. Fewer choices means higher prices. For those that say Costco is a giant that can only hurt others ignores examples like Gill's who will prosper for the traffic while offering items not found in the Costco itself. It is without a doubt that the end part of the city will be very appreciative of a store they probably had to drive some distance to in the south end of the city. And for those living in Lockport, Selkirk and surrounding, this will be excellent news. Overall, for the city and beyond, this will only be seen as a good thing.