PHOTOS: New Costco opens its doors in Ontario

A new Costco has officially opened its doors in Ontario.

The warehouse is located in Brantford and marks the city’s first Costco location, a news release from the company said.

It’s located off of Wayne Gretzky Parkway next to the Lynden Park Mall.

“With the opening of this new warehouse, we can serve all of our members in the Brantford and surrounding area – many of whom previously travelled to Ancaster to shop – and bring new consumers and businesses to uncover the benefits of a Costco membership,” said Gino Dorico, the senior vice president and country manager of Costco Wholesale Canada.

The 159,098 square-foot warehouse has the usual Costco features, but also has a sushi department — the first of its kind in Ontario and only the second in Canada.

It also has a gas station with 24 pumps, a pharmacy, optical centre, hearing aid centre, five tire centre bays, and a food court that is serving California eight-piece crab rolls.

The warehouse offers beer, wine, and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages for sale, joining all other Costcos in the province after the government’s recent expansion of alcohol sales.

The Brantford location has resulted in the creation of 180 permanent and 80 seasonal jobs, the company said.

“We are very grateful for the confidence that Costco has shown in Brantford by adding new jobs, which will act as a catalyst in our community,” Brantford Mayor Ken Davis said.

Costco has 892 warehouses worldwide. In Canada, there are 108, with 41 in Ontario.

The first one in Canada opened in Burnaby, B.C. in 1985 and the first Ontario location opened in Ottawa in 1991.

See photos of the new Brantford Costco below: