SMITHFIELD – As it turns out, despite all the swirling counter-narratives on social media, that the news about Costco’s foray into Rhode Island is real.
The company is running a sponsored Meta ad making the news flash about as official as it gets.
“It’s official! Costco will be entering the planning stages for a new location in Rhode Island. Estimated opening in 2028. We look forward to serving the citizens of Rhode Island in their own state,” read the post.
Town Council President John Tassoni, who originally led representatives for the discount store on a tour of town locations, said the attorney for Costco sent him a copy of the ad by text.
Local planning officials’ comments about no plans being submitted as of yet for the Smithfield location set off rumors that gubernatorial candidate Helena Foulkes, a member of the board at Costco, was engineering a fake positive news story to boost her election chances. That narrative took off when her opponents in the race made similar comments. They accused Foulkes of playing politics with Rhode Islanders’ groceries.
Here’s our original story on Oct. 22:
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.
