Thursday, July 22, 1999
Deerfield Twp. embraces Costco
Discounter establishing a beachhead
BY KEVIN ALDRIDGE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP — One of the nation's largest discount retail chains is launching its Midwest invasion here — and bringing with it at least 150 new jobs.
Costco Companies Inc. received the go-ahead from trustees Tuesday to build a 145,000-square-foot ware house next to the Target Store in the Waterstone shopping center. A relatively popular chain on the East and West coasts, Costco's Deerfield facility will be the company's first venture into the Midwest.
“The Greater Cincinnati area is a great marketplace for this type of business,” said Walter Kaczynski, a Costco representative.
Those possibilities include the creation of 150 to 250 new jobs, according to township officials. Those jobs, estimated to pay $8-$16 an hour, will bolster Warren County's growing payroll, which in creased from $562 million to $1.1 billion from 1990 to 1996, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
“This is going to be a great fit for the township,” said Hazel Dotson, township administrator, noting Deerfield claims more than 500 businesses. “We believe that Costco is going to be a real good neighbor.”
Mr. Kaczynski said Costco targets small- to medium-sized businesses and middle- to upper-class families for its customer base.
“Costco is able to offer lower prices and better values by eliminating virtually all the frills and costs historically associated with conventional retailers,” said Jim Sinegal, the company's president and chief executive officer. “We run a tight operation with extremely low overhead.”
Costco's warehouses present one of the largest selections of quality, brand-name merchandise found under a single roof, Mr. Kaczynski said.
The Deerfield warehouse will feature one of the company's more updated designs, which includes a self-service gas station, optical laboratory, pharmacy, delicatessen and tire center.
The warehouse, expected to debut around Thanksgiving, will be open seven days a week for all members, with special hours reserved for business and executive members.
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