SMITHFIELD – Costco’s long-rumored move to Smithfield (and Rhode Island) is becoming a reality, as confirmed by candidate for governor Helena Foulkes Thursday.
In a statement to media, Foulkes, a member of Costco’s board of directors, said Rhode Island’s first store will be built on a vacant lot on Route 116.
That’s an area the company has been scouting for at least two years. In 2024, Town Council President John Tassoni took representatives from Northwest Realty, advisory agency for the Costco Wholesale Club, to tour various locations along Routes 7 and 116.
Tassoni confirmed Wednesday that the store will be built on the old Smithfield Peat location near the intersection of the two main roadways, a spot accessible to several major highways. He said it’s very big news for the town.
Town Manager Bob Seltzer said no one from town was notified that the announcement would be made by Foulkes. Town staffers say they’ve been inundated with requests for more information, but don’t have much to offer beyond what’s been revealed.
The new location will bring some 250 great-paying jobs to the state starting in 2028, according to officials.
“I’m so thrilled that Rhode Island is finally getting a Costco,” Foulkes said in a statement. “I’ve heard from so many Rhode Islanders who were tired of driving to Massachusetts to shop, and soon they’ll have one right here at home.”
Final approval of the building will go through the town’s planning process. According to planning staff, they’ve received no formal plans as of yet from Costco. This would be considered a major land development project, they add, and would, at a minimum, have to go through a public hearing process.
Costco operates a national chain of membership-only warehouse club stores.
