Costco’s membership-based wholesale retailer is actively expanding in 2026, planning to break ground on dozens of new warehouses across the country this year. One of those new stores is located in the New York town of Guilderland and is nearing completion, marking the first Costco in the Albany area.
Next to Crossgates Mall, the exterior construction of the highly anticipated location seemed to be essentially finished as of Tuesday, according to local outlet Times Union. Heavy machinery and gravel remain at the construction site, sitting in front of the gray-colored warehouse. But the building itself is ready.
The estimated opening date? August. And Costco is already hiring.
The August Deadline
In late 2025, Guilderland town planner Kenneth Kovalchik shared that the town knew about the estimated August opening date and had not been informed of any timeline changes. That means, barring unexpected delays, the doors should open this summer.
The construction project has been years in the making. Five years of planning. Lengthy legal battles. The acquisition of homes in the area surrounding the construction site. Now, the finish line is in sight.
The upcoming Costco warehouse is located on a 16-acre site. The construction project will also include a New York Oncology Hematology cancer treatment center, with Pyramid projecting a December opening. That means the site will serve two very different community needs: bargain shopping and cancer care.
Costco Is Hiring Now
As the retailer braces for the store opening in a few short months, it has posted 40 job listings on its website. The positions include everything from cashier, cake decorator, tire installer, meat cutter, and forklift driver to pharmacy service clerk, stocker, and gas station attendant.
Costco noted on its website that “the jobs listed are examples of the typical kinds of positions that Costco may hire for when openings exist. The listing does not mean that any positions are currently open or available at Costco.”
Translation: Costco is preparing its hiring pipeline. Not every position listed is actively accepting applications. But the retailer is scouring the local job market in search of more than 150 people to employ. For job seekers in the Albany area, this is a significant opportunity. Costco is known for paying above-average wages and offering strong benefits.
A Long-Awaited Arrival
Last March, Pyramid Management Group CEO Stephen J. Congel called Costco “one of the most desired national brands,” saying that the shopping mall developer was excited to kick off construction on the Capital Region’s first Costco.
For Albany-area residents, the arrival of Costco has been a topic of conversation for years. The nearest Costco locations have required drives to other regions. This new warehouse puts the wholesale retailer in its backyard.
The store will offer the standard Costco experience: bulk groceries, household goods, electronics, clothing, tires, pharmacy services, optical care, and the famous food court. Members will also have access to gasoline at the attached station.
Costco Membership Options
For shoppers planning to visit the new Guilderland location, a Costco membership is required. Here is what is currently offered:
The Gold Star Membership costs $65 per year and allows shoppers to access all Costco stores and online, with two additional cards for household members.
The Executive Membership costs $130 per year and includes an annual 2 percent reward, additional discounts and benefits on Costco services, plus the same in-store and online access with two household cards.
Both memberships offer the same core shopping privileges. The Executive level adds a rewards component that can pay for itself depending on how much a household spends annually.
What This Means for Albany Shoppers
The August opening of the Guilderland Costco is a significant event for the Albany area. It brings a major national retailer to a region that has long been underserved by wholesale clubs. It creates more than 150 local jobs. And it gives shoppers an alternative to other big-box and grocery options.
For Costco, the expansion is part of a broader national strategy. The company is actively expanding in 2026, planning to break ground on dozens of new warehouses this year. The Guilderland location is just one piece of that puzzle.
For shoppers, the August deadline is both a promise and a warning. The store will open this summer. But when it does, the crowds will be significant. The parking lot will be full, and checkout lines will be long. Anyone who has ever visited a Costco on opening weekend knows what to expect.
