Costco Comes to Wasaga Beach: A $50M Bet on South Georgian Bay Growth
Costco Wholesale has committed to building a 162,000-square-foot warehouse at 345 Lyons Court in Wasaga Beach, Ontario – a $50 million investment that will create more than 370 jobs and deliver the first Costco location west of Barrie in the entire south Georgian Bay corridor. The building permit was issued in April 2026, construction is underway in spring 2026, and doors are expected to open as early as fall 2026.
The project represents one of the most significant private-sector investments in Wasaga Beach history, arriving amid a broader wave of $355 million in public and private investment during the 2023-2026 council term. For the Southern Georgian Bay real estate market, the Costco anchors a rapidly maturing commercial corridor on the town west side – near Gateway Casino, the future Marriott hotel, and Stonebridge $90 million mixed-use development – signalling a fundamental shift in how this fast-growing community is perceived by national retailers and institutional investors.
How a Rumour Became a $50 Million Reality
The Costco story in Wasaga Beach began not with an official announcement but with boots on the ground. By mid-2024, residents noticed surveyors and grading equipment at the Lyons Court and Ramblewood Drive intersection. A local community blog, the Wasaga Chronicle, reported in June 2024 that a resident had spoken to a surveyor who confirmed Costco involvement, and that staff at the existing Barrie Costco had told customers they were looking forward to transferring to the new Wasaga location.
The earliest official acknowledgment came on June 20, 2024, when the Town Chief Administrative Officer addressed the topic at a public meeting – initially characterizing reports as rumour before confirming in the same remarks that “an application is now in place.” Mayor Brian Smith issued a public statement around the same time referencing “the potential for a large retailer to bring jobs to Wasaga Beach,” carefully avoiding naming Costco directly.
The first mainstream media confirmation came on January 24, 2025, when CTV Barrie reporter Cheryl Browne published “Costco eyeing Wasaga Beach for new site,” reporting that the Town and Costco were in “preliminary talks.” By February 5, 2025, official site plan drawings – stamped “Issued for Approval, Not for Construction” – were dated and filed with the Town, bearing Costco Wholesale Corporation name and the project designation for a “New Warehouse and Fuel Facility.”
The zoning clearance moved through council in early 2026. On February 27, 2026, the Town issued a “Second and Revised Notice” for a zoning bylaw amendment to remove the Holding (H) symbol from the property. Council passed the amendment on or around March 5, 2026, reclassifying the land from Service Commercial-Holding (CS-H) to Service Commercial (CS). The building permit – the final approval required – was issued in April 2026, followed immediately by the Town official press release on April 10, 2026.
Every Player at the Table
Kelowna Valley Developments Ltd., care of Frank Filippo, is the registered landowner and applicant on all planning files. Costco Wholesale Corporation, headquartered at 999 Lake Drive in Issaquah, Washington, is the tenant and operator. Notably, Costco itself has not issued any standalone press release and declined comment to the Creemore Echo about the anticipated opening date – all official communications have flowed through the Town of Wasaga Beach.
The architectural firm is MG2, a Seattle-based practice that serves as Costco primary warehouse designer globally, having worked on more than 800 locations. GeoVERRA (ON) Ltd. conducted the topographic survey, dated June 24, 2024.
On the municipal side, Mayor Brian Smith has been the most visible champion, providing multiple public statements framing the Costco as central to the town economic development strategy. The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) provided environmental and conservation review, and the Town Accessibility Advisory Committee reviewed and commented on the site plan in April 2025 via Resolution AAC-2025-14.
A 17-Acre Site with 872 Parking Spaces
The Costco warehouse is being built at 345 Lyons Court, at the northeast corner of Lyons Court and Ramblewood Drive, in Wasaga Beach west end near Gateway Casino. The property sits close to Highway 26 but does not have direct highway access – vehicles will reach it via Lyons Court and Ramblewood Drive.
- Total Costco site area: 69,077.5 m2 (17.07 acres); total lands including outparcel: 80,859.2 m2 (19.99 acres)
- Warehouse building: 15,071.3 m2 (162,226 sq ft), single storey, 9.75 metres tall
- Gas bar: Fuel facility with mechanical enclosure (125 sq ft) and warming hut (15 sq ft)
- Tire centre: Included within the warehouse footprint
- Seasonal garden centre: Outdoor retail area
- Parking: 872 total spaces (856 standard at 3.0m width plus 16 barrier-free)
The 162,000-square-foot footprint is approximately 15% larger than the average Costco warehouse (which runs about 146,000 to 150,000 sq ft nationally), placing it in line with Costco newer, larger-format stores such as the 164,162-square-foot Northwest Toronto location opened in November 2023.
The Planning Approvals Moved Without Opposition
The municipal approval process was notably smooth. Because the property was already designated and zoned for Service Commercial use, no Official Plan Amendment was required. The only zoning change needed was the removal of a Holding (H) symbol under Section 36 of the Ontario Planning Act.
Three official planning files were registered with the Town:
- Z01126 – Zoning Bylaw Amendment to lift the Holding symbol, enabling construction
- SP00524 – Site Plan Control application for the warehouse, gas bar, and associated facilities
- B03324 – Consent (severance) application to divide the Costco parcel from retained lands
No Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) proceedings were filed. No appeals were lodged against any of the decisions. No organized opposition groups, petitions, or formal protests materialized at any stage of the process.
370 Jobs and a Stronger Tax Base
The Town official press release describes the Costco as creating more than 370 jobs – revised upward from an earlier estimate of 320 reported in mid-2024. The Town has consistently framed the development as central to its strategy to reduce reliance on residential property taxes and build a more sustainable commercial tax base.
Mayor Smith stated: “This Council has been focused on attracting major investment that creates jobs, strengthens our economy, and builds a more sustainable tax base – and this announcement is a direct result of that work.”
Costco is widely recognized as offering among the highest wages in Canadian retail. The average hourly wage for Costco Canada employees is $29.76 per hour (2023 figure), and a full-time cashier with six years tenure earns over $70,000 annually.
During the 2023-2026 council term, Wasaga Beach has secured $355 million or more in combined public and private investment, including Sunray Group $60 million Marriott hotel, Stonebridge Building Group $90 million mixed-use development, and over $155 million in provincial infrastructure funding.
A Community That Wanted This - With a Few Caveats
Public sentiment toward the Costco has been overwhelmingly positive. No petitions, protest groups, or formal opposition campaigns were identified across all sources searched, including council records, social media, Reddit, and community forums.
The most substantive concerns came from the Wasaga Chronicle, a local opinion blog, which raised two issues worth noting. First, the potential competitive impact on Walmart and downtown retail. Second, a political credit dispute – the blog alleged that Costco discussions began under the previous Bifolchi council and that the current Smith council was claiming undue credit.
An UrbanToronto commenter raised the question of market saturation, noting: “That is becoming quite a concentration for Costco; Barrie, Orillia and now Wasaga.” No formal retail market impact analysis has been made public.
Why Location Matters: Filling a Gap West of Highway 400
The Wasaga Beach Costco fills a clear gap in regional retail coverage. Currently, the only Costco warehouses in Simcoe County are in Barrie (opened December 7, 1993) and Orillia (opened July 25, 2017). Both sit east of Highway 400, leaving the entire western Simcoe County and south Georgian Bay corridor without a nearby Costco.
Wasaga Beach residents currently face a 39 to 45 minute drive to Barrie or a 53 to 58 minute drive to Orillia. The new location will draw from a primary trade area that includes well over 100,000 permanent residents, plus a massive seasonal and tourist population.
Wasaga Beach population grew 20.3% between 2016 and 2021 (from 20,675 to 24,862), making it one of Canada fastest-growing municipalities. The estimated 2026 population is approximately 29,800, and the town Official Plan projects the population to double over the next 30 years.
Costco Ontario expansion continues aggressively. The company has opened locations in Northwest Toronto/Etobicoke (November 2023), Brantford (November 2024), and Newmarket (August 2025). Ontario now hosts approximately 43 Costco warehouses – more than any other province.
Full Development Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Pre-2022 | Discussions reportedly begin under previous Bifolchi council |
| Mid-2024 | Surveyors and grading equipment observed at Lyons Court/Ramblewood |
| June 2024 | CAO confirms “an application is now in place” at public meeting; 320 jobs cited |
| January 2025 | CTV Barrie publishes first mainstream report |
| February 2025 | Official site plan drawings dated and filed |
| March 2025 | Committee of Adjustment considers consent application |
| November 2025 | New Official Plan adopted; site grading underway |
| February 2026 | Town issues revised notice for Holding symbol removal |
| March 2026 | Council passes zoning bylaw amendment; Creemore Echo confirms spring construction |
| April 2026 | Building permit issued; Town press release; CTV confirms fall 2026 opening |
| Fall 2026 | Doors expected to open |
Media Coverage Index
Coverage has been regional rather than national:
- CTV Barrie – January 24, 2025 (Cheryl Browne) and April 10, 2026 (Jocelyn Martin)
- Creemore Echo – March 20, 2026 (Bonnie MacPherson), the most detailed single news article
- Barrie 360 – April 13, 2026, summarizing the Town press release
- Simcoe.com – Two articles (February 3 and March 2, 2026), both behind a paywall
- Town of Wasaga Beach – Official press release (April 2026)
- Wasaga Chronicle (community blog) – Multiple posts from June 2024 onward
- UrbanToronto/SkyriseCities – Active forum thread tracking construction progress
What This Means for South Georgian Bay Real Estate
The Costco Wasaga Beach project moved from rumour to reality in roughly two years – a remarkably fast timeline by Ontario planning standards, facilitated by land that was already zoned for commercial use and a community eager for the investment. The $50 million, 162,000-square-foot warehouse at 345 Lyons Court will be the first Costco serving the western Simcoe County and south Georgian Bay market, closing a significant gap in retail infrastructure for a region with over 100,000 permanent residents and millions of annual tourists.
For the Southern Georgian Bay real estate market, the implications extend well beyond retail convenience. A Costco anchoring the west end of Wasaga Beach – alongside the Marriott hotel, Stonebridge mixed-use development, and two new high schools – transforms the town value proposition for buyers and investors. The project signals that institutional-grade retailers now view Wasaga Beach as a viable, growth-stage market rather than a seasonal beach town.
The building permit is in hand, construction is underway, and fall 2026 remains the target opening – barring construction delays, south Georgian Bay first Costco will be scanning membership cards before the year is out.
