Costco is known for offering customers nearly everything in bulk. In Kansas City, at its Midtown location, that now includes sadness.
And anger. And concern by loyal customers over the recent news — although still unofficial and unconfirmed (Costco has said nothing) — that the company’s store at 241 Linwood Blvd., a staple for 25 years, is to be converted into a Costco Business Center.
What that means is starting to be freely shared by Midtown staff and management who are telling customers, should they ask, that the plan, as far as they know it, is for the Linwood location to shut down close to the end of 2026 (perhaps in November) around the same time that new Costco stores are set to open in Lee’s Summit and Lawrence, Kansas.
Goodbye pharmacy, eye center, clothes, furniture
When the Linwood location reopens, which employees said could take as long as three months, it will be a “business center.” As such — to serve restaurants, offices, convenience stores and individual customers — it will carry a larger amount of food and produce. But the store will no longer include a pharmacy or eye care center.
It will no longer sell electronics, books, lawn care items, plants, toys, furniture or clothing. The nearest Costco stores to do so for Midtown customers will be 15 or more miles away in Lenexa, Independence or in the Northland.
The Star reached out to Costco’s corporate communications this week, but has yet to receive a response. On Jan. 15, rumors of Costco’s possible revamp prompted the Kansas City Council to approve a resolution directing the city manager and the city’s economic development agencies to initiate talks with the company, with the aim of keeping the store in its current form.
1,000 sign petition to save retail Costco
The Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City has reportedly attempted to begin those discussions. As of Friday, slightly more than 1,000 signatures have been gathered on a change.org petition urging Costco, “to listen to the voices of those who routinely visit the 241 Linwood Boulevard location and keep it as a retail Costco.”…