IRONDALE, Ala. — Wholesale giant Costco has announced plans to open a new 152,000-square-foot warehouse and self-service gas station in Irondale, representing a $105 million investment expected to reshape the local economy and job market.
The store will be built at the southwest corner of Grants Mill Road and Interstate 459, near the Mercedes-Benz dealership. The project is projected to create up to 300 jobs and bring in $6 million to $8 million annually in new sales tax revenue for Irondale, city officials said.
Once complete, the Irondale location will be Alabama’s sixth Costco. The store is expected to draw shoppers from a wide area, including Liberty Park, Mountain Brook, Trussville and as far as Gadsden and Anniston.
City leaders have billed the project as Irondale’s most significant single economic development in years. In response to community concerns about traffic and neighborhood impact, the city has acquired land to serve as a buffer zone between the warehouse and residential areas.
The announcement has generated excitement among residents and officials hopeful that the warehouse will foster broader business growth throughout the Birmingham metro.
No opening date has been set.