Now hiring: Costco moves up opening date and is accepting applications for Ann Arbor area store
With construction moving faster than expected at the new Costco in Pittsfield Township, the warehouse store will open nearly a month earlier than planned, the township supervisor announced Thursday.
The store, which is located on a 17-acre site in the Airport Plaza industrial park near the corner of State and Ellsworth, will open June 29 rather than July 26.
The Costco store in Pittsfield Township will open June 29.
Nathan Bomey | AnnArbor.com
Supervisor Mandy Grewal said Costco is also accepting applications on its website, although it’s unclear how many employees the company plans to hire.
There are a variety of job opportunities listed on the website, including baker, cake decorator, cashier, meat cutter, pharmacist, stocker, payroll clerk, forklift driver, licensed optician, outside marketer, photo lab clerk and many more.
The Pittsfield Township store will be 148,000 square feet with 720 parking spaces and a gasoline station. Crews started demolition of eight office buildings in late September, and construction moved quickly this winter thanks in part to favorable winter weather.
The building’s steel structure was erected in December and a helicopter hoisted 14 HVAC units onto the roof in February.
Grewal said she anticipates the opening of Costco to have “positive ripple effects” in the Pittsfield Township community.
“I see property values increasing in Pittsfield Township,” she said. “I hope and anticipate that folks will apply for the jobs that are going to be made at Costco and then choose to live and work in Pittsfield Township.”
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
Grace Wu
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:05 p.m.
my husband wants to apply for the baker position so when I walk by he can throw me a loaf of bread from behind the counter. I ? my Peeta.
PersonX
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:06 p.m.
More jobs-yes, but what kind and at what cost? This will surely deprive local small stores of business--there is no way around this. As long as people want to save at any cost, without taking into consideration the larger cost to others in the community and to the economy as a whole, the big box stores will thrive. This is understandable since things are tough all around and people need to watch heir pocketbooks. The results will eventually come back to haunt us all, but it is a free country and we can all do what we like.
Randy Bell
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 4 a.m.
That's so cool! That means more jobs!
Sallyxyz
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:18 a.m.
Nice to read a positive story. Hope a lot of folks apply for jobs at Costco. I am eager to check out the new store! Are they going to run any specials on memberships?
cibachrome
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:34 a.m.
Thank Heaven. Now Ann Arbor drivers won't have to plague us up here in Brighton anymore (hopefully). We have stop signs, know how to negotiate roundabouts, use turn signals and enter and merge onto the expressways at traffic's speed. I feel safer already !
A2Homegrown
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:02 p.m.
@cibachrome: Be careful what you wish for. I'm sure you're not a business owner in Brighton, large or small, or you wouldn't begrudge any consumer who travels up 23 to visit your little roundabout. Thank Heaven. ;)
TNB
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:37 p.m.
Did you ever stop to think that they are spending money in Brighton? In addition to spending money at Costco, consumers might be buying gas, picking up a cup of coffee, buying lunch, or stopping at Kohl's or other stores to shop as well? Thank Heaven, we will now have a Costco in A2, and not spend any more of our dollars up there in Brighton...near you! Mark your calendar for June 29, because then you will not have anymore idiot drivers up there in Brighton, according to your factual information...no need to go to Brighton anymore. You can enjoy your roundabout once again in peace.
Brad
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:32 p.m.
You cannot imagine how glad I'll be to not have spend my money in Livingston county any longer. Plus it's just so bizarre shopping in a place that is entirely devoid of people of color. Very unnatural.
81wolverine
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 10:09 p.m.
This is good news. I hope I can buy cat litter by the pallet there since our 2 cats seem to go through a ton of it every month!
ksr48
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 9:41 p.m.
Djacks - you must not live in the township. It probably has more apartments and condos than half the other townships combined. All ranges.
Klanger
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 10:05 p.m.
@bob: plenty of apartments next to Hickory in the township. You know.
Basic Bob
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 9:47 p.m.
OK, I'll bite. Ypsilanti Township, you pick the rest.
djacks24
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 9:20 p.m.
""I see property values increasing in Pittsfield Township," she said. "I hope and anticipate that folks will apply for the jobs that are going to be made at Costco and then choose to live and work in Pittsfield Township."" Don't know what Costco pays, but doubtful its enough to afford Pittsfield township (even at current property values) unless there is some low cost housing that Costco is planing on funding along with everything else?
Peter
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:28 a.m.
Costco pays extremely well, and is a model of how to properly respect and compensate employees.
obviouscomment
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:34 a.m.
There are a lot of apartments in Pittsfield Township. Ex: Carpenter Rd.
5c0++ H4d13y
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:22 a.m.
Many households are dual income and so finding a good job in the area may help some people relocate a family to the area that were one spouse was previously commuting.
motorcycleminer
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 8:49 p.m.
Thats great news..Now if we ( residents of pittsfield ) can just put the skids on the " Merry - go - round..it will be just fine , but I'm not holding my breath ..like prince john in Oz ( ann arbor ) what the citizens want, in pittsfield also falls on deaf and dumb ears...
Sallyxyz
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 2:20 a.m.
I'm with you. I do not like the roundabouts. Drivers go too fast and cut off cars already in the circle. No one yields. I wonder if there will be any way to avoid the roundabout to get to the store.
Basic Bob
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 9:52 p.m.
Pittsfield Senior Center is having a roundabout driving school, and maybe some practice runs. ... Senior Center... Speedway ... Senior Center ...
ksr48
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 8 p.m.
Great news!! Let the shopping begin. Well done, Pittsfield. Probably the most exciting retail development news from the past several years. Maybe our local economy has indeed turned the corner. These jobs pay well and provide employees with livable wages and benefits as a career.
Paul
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 7:59 p.m.
Michigan law has quotas for liquor licenses (off premise) per city which I believe are all spoken for. But in addition the law states that you cannot have two liquor stores within half a mile of each other unless there is a three lane devided highway separating them. With Super Liquor IV around the corner on state street I don't see how Costco can secure a license without buying Super Liquor IV up or doing something fishy up in lansing!
Plubius
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:10 p.m.
What idiotic laws. Get rid of them all.
Paul
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 8:27 p.m.
I own a liquor store and pretty familiar with the laws. If they sell liquor then it's a SDD license regardless of what else they sell. The law I talk about is for SDD licenses. Now SAMs club I heard applied at one time but due to presence of a liq store on corner of carpenter and Michigan just across the street they still don't have one. Some stores might exist that are within half a mile of each other but those stores licenses could be pretty old and grand fathered in. My store is an example of that, for there exists another store within half a mile of me.
AlfaElan
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 8:14 p.m.
Paul, I don't understand how this can be. Are you sure CostCo would be counted as a liquor store? There are three places to buy liquor within 1/2 mile of Carpenter and Elsworth (liquor store, CVS and Kroger), and I am sure I can come up with other examples. I suspect CVS and Kroger are not counted as liquor stores since liquor is not there main merchandise as would be the case with CostCo.
applehazar
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 7:19 p.m.
Any update on the liquor license?
HeimerBoodle
Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 12:49 p.m.
@Alicia M - hard liquor prices are regulated but beer and wine are not. Given that Costco is the largest wine retailer in the US, being able to play on that in AA, and bringing in a selection at a price point that would be difficult to match, would be a big selling point for them and beneficial for consumers.
Alicia M
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 8:18 p.m.
Aside from convenience (if already shopping at Costco), would there be any benefit buying liquor there? I believe state law regulates liquor so that the prices are the same no matter where you buy in the state.
Lizzy Alfs
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 8:03 p.m.
From Andrea Miller with the LCC: As of today, Costco's application has been given to the state's licensing division for review. She didn't have a timeline for when the license could be issued.
Lizzy Alfs
Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 7:29 p.m.
I have a call placed to the Liquor Control Commission and am waiting to hear back. I'll get back to you!