Mass hiring: New Costco warehouse store in Pittsfield Township will create 180 jobs
The under-construction Costco warehouse store in Pittsfield Township in February.
Lizzy Alfs | AnnArbor.com
Warehouse manager Bill Linfield, who spoke at the A2Y Chamber’s Early Edition event Wednesday morning, said the company is looking to hire the employees in time for the store’s grand opening on June 29.
“We are opening earlier than anticipated and we have a little hill to climb in front of us,” Linfield said.
Costco began accepting applications on its website 10 days ago, and Linfield estimated 1,000 people have applied. Linfield hopes to receive 5,000 or even 6,000 applications.
He said the store has a few management positions open, and positions range from a cake decorator to a cashier. He said Costco might hire more people initially, but then will level off around 180 positions.
There are a variety of other job opportunities listed on the website, including baker, meat cutter, pharmacist, stocker, payroll clerk, forklift driver, licensed optician, outside marketer, photo lab clerk and many more.
“I want to hire right here in this community,” he said. “Some specialized jobs might come from somewhere else, but we want to hire in this area.”
The 148,000-square-foot store and gasoline station is located on a 17-acre site in the Airport Plaza industrial park. Demolition of existing office buildings began in September, and the building’s steel structure was erected in December.
Linfield, who called the store a “beautiful facility,” cited the great winter weather for moving things ahead of schedule.
Asked about what makes Costco special, Linfield joked: “Our hot dog and a coke for $1.50."
He added: "It’s a great value, and that goes through the whole building, whether it’s crab legs, diamonds or toilet paper.”
Click here to apply for a job at Costco.
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
HENRYK
Mon, May 7, 2012 : 4:53 p.m.
180 Jobs and 5,000 applicants. If that don't say something about this economy nothing does!
Jay
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 9:39 p.m.
I never knew Michigan had so many uneducated people. It's so sad. It's not even like this is up for debate. It's common sense. If there is one Kroger in your town, you will have to shop at that Kroger every time. If a Wal-Mart opens up, they are guaranteed to take some customers away. Meijer opens up, they will take some customers away. They could take all of them away, or they could take a third, for example. Managers look at sales and have to keep their labor costs within certain percentages. People will be laid off. Some stores will close. It won't add jobs! This isn't hard to understand!
Julie Lee
Thu, May 24, 2012 : 3:23 p.m.
Your argument only holds water if the area is already saturated with to many retailers. Where are you're statistics to back this argument. Do you know what the retail spending is for the AA area? In your argument employment would never go up or down it would stay the same. I shop at Meijer, Busch, Wal-Mart, Target, Country Market and Sam's Club. I am don't have a loyalty to no retailers.
ruminator
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 12:59 p.m.
How will they get to work without the roundabout at State & Ellsworth? That said, will the interview process include a roundabout skills test?
G-Man
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 11:49 a.m.
I've heard of the Costco store name, but is this one of these deals where you have to pay to shop there? (Like Sam's)? I hope not...... I don't shop anywhere that i have to pay to shop there.........
Julie Lee
Thu, May 24, 2012 : 3:07 p.m.
Yes, you need to purchase a yearly membership like Sam's Club.
Tesla
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 1:50 a.m.
Lets not forget the hundreds of construction workers that built this place, and the truck drivers that brought the supplies, and the big contract for a local landscaping firm to dress the facility, and maintain it weekly, and do the snow. Lets not forget the additional taxes for Pittsfield Twp, and all the money this place will spend in places you and I have no idea. Lets not forget it gives some people something to whine about. :)
Tesla
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 1:44 a.m.
Amazing how republicans can do their own math and claim adding 180 jobs is a net loss of jobs in the global marketplace. You all need to get real and more importantly. Get over it. You have almost five more years of him.
Basic Bob
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 4:32 p.m.
The Pittsfield board of trustees are nominally Democrats.
Angry Moderate
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 2:15 a.m.
LOL, yeah, it's all the Republicans in Ann Arbor that fight against big box chain stores and construction development.
Arborcomment
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 12:16 a.m.
Will Costco sell the same produce (in bulk) recently highlighted as available at Meijer?
stevek
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 11:17 p.m.
What is wrong with all the negative comments? From all the negative posts, maybe we should NOT have any new jobs in Washtenaw County. Most local/independant business fail. Competition creates jobs. Pepsi wouldn't exist without Coca-Cola, and Pepsi seems to be doing OK.
clownfish
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 8:23 p.m.
The actual job "creation" will fall well below the 180 mark. As mentioned, COSTCO merely transfers sales from another retailer into their store, for the most part. This could possibly be the death of Country Market down the street, time will tell. As far as Big Box stores go, COSTCO is one of the better ones, but most of the profits will be going upstream out of state, whereas Country mkt keeps most of theirs in our state.
Julie Lee
Thu, May 24, 2012 : 2:30 p.m.
You probably said the same thing about Country Market when Wal-Mart came in.
ribs1
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 3:37 a.m.
Country Market sucks. Their meat counter sucks. Busches in Saline also sucks. Costo does not suck. Many of us here already drive all the way to Brighton to get better products at better prices. Country Market and Saline Busches better learn to compete or it's too bad for them.
Soothslayer
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 8:08 p.m.
What Jay, Gill and John Q said. The only ones voting up are the ones that benefit from Costco being there. Just follow the money trail every time. Learn 2 economics folks. You're not creating jobs or revenue, you're just shifting them around and sending the profits out of Michigan. Bad bad bad.
Julie Lee
Thu, May 24, 2012 : 2:28 p.m.
Who cares where the profits go! Pittsfield township added a large retailer to there tax roll. Many individuals get employment & the money they earned will most likely be spent in Washtenaw County. You're argument is no different than the one to buy American cars VS Foreign cars.
applehazar
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 8:24 p.m.
Shift?? I just save $$ and gas not driving to Brighton - get over it AA. Costco is a great happening here
Brad
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 8:18 p.m.
So shifting jobs here is a *bad* thing?
MRunner73
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 7:27 p.m.
Am all for the 180 new jobs but why does Mr Linfield need to review 5,000 to 6,00 applicants? Sounds a little greedy. Hopefully, they will end up needing another few dozen employees after the Grand Opening.
eagleman
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 7:54 p.m.
How is that greedy? The more applicants who apply greatly increases the chances of finding quality workers. Retails generally attracts some of the worst workers in the country.
MRunner73
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 7:28 p.m.
5,000 to 6,000...
GeeWhiz
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 6:37 p.m.
How much do Costco Associates make per hour?
Angry Moderate
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 1:04 a.m.
Costco pays $10-$15 per hour, which is much more than many of the hip, locally-owned businesses that AA.com commenters are always praising.
jns131
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 11:59 p.m.
What ever the min wage is in the state of Michigan is what these poor people will get. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Brad
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 7:58 p.m.
You sure about that? Costco is widely recognized as an above average employer paying above average wages.
eagleman
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 7:55 p.m.
About minimum wage. It's retail.
John Q
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 4:59 p.m.
First they commoditize the products and then they commoditize the jobs.
eagleman
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 7:58 p.m.
In socialist countries a worker's labor belongs to the "people". You are not a person, but a drone fulfilling the requirements of the state. Basically, you are under someone's thumb in every system unless you work for yourself or are wealthy.
Gill
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 4:24 p.m.
Not to mention money spent at the store sends the cash to Issaquah, WA, the corporate headquarters- so unless the employee paychecks exceeds the revenue, it is a net money loss in Michigan.
GoNavy
Sat, Jun 16, 2012 : 1:48 p.m.
The cash is distributed to those who have provided capital to the company, in order of precedence. The city of Issaquah, WA has nothing to do with it.
eagleman
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 7:51 p.m.
It is obvious that neither Gill or Jay understand what they are talking about. Besides the jobs this Costco will create, it will also pay taxes, which means more money in the coffers of the local government. If we continue the line of logic employed by Jay and Gill we ought to buy nothing that does not originate from Washtenaw County. Goodbye gas, computers, televisions, cellphones, cars….you get the point.
ferdcom
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 6 p.m.
@Jay. Thanks for your insults. Buy some Costco stock and the profits will come back here.
Jay
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 5:50 p.m.
@ferdcom, wow, oh wow. Really sad. You just don't get it. Let me explain; the associates and store managers get their pittance. After maintenance, the Lion's share goes to Issaquah, WA, the corporate headquarters. That's what Gill is talking about.
ferdcom
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 4:40 p.m.
What???? Cash is deposited in local banks, not loaded on trucks and sent to Washington.
ksr48
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 4:08 p.m.
Bravo to Pittsfield Township and all of the new jobs this will create! Very well done!
Basic Bob
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 6:44 p.m.
Jobs for attorneys fighting federal oversight of the township zoning plan.
Jay
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 4:06 p.m.
Retail does not "add" jobs, it merely takes away revenue from other area stores. Costco's opening will just redistribute the pie. This is the same logic that the film industry and professional sports leagues use to convince people to support taxpayer funded projects. Even if all of Detroit's pro teams left, the money would just go somewhere else; no one is adding or losing jobs. An economy needs to have outside sources of income to expand and add jobs.
Jane
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 6:02 p.m.
Actually Julie Lee, country Market in Saline is closed up in 2 weeks due to lack of customers who didnt want Walmart to come to Saline and now shop there instead. Better prices always bring people in and Walmart apparently did just that
Julie Lee
Thu, May 24, 2012 : 2:16 p.m.
The same thing was said when Wal-Mart went in Pittsfield. Country Market in Saline is still open.
discgolfgeek
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 11:52 a.m.
So you are essentially saying we need to export to expand and create jobs. We've been losing that battle for 30-40 years.
Angry Moderate
Thu, Apr 19, 2012 : 1:02 a.m.
Fat Bill - think about employment on a global basis. The total number of jobs in the world goes up when businesses compete and innovate, although no "outside money" is brought from outer space.
Fat Bill
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 8:12 p.m.
Eagleman, Jay's point is that the store will take sales from other area businesses, eventually reducing positions in the stores that Costco's customers used to shop in. He argues that money coming in from outside is what is needed to actually bring employment up.
eagleman
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 : 7:42 p.m.
Um, Costco is an "outside" source of income. 180 people who didn't have jobs will now have a job or if it is a second job, more money in their pocket.That is a gain for the county.