You know that feeling when you're stuck in the checkout line at the Tustin or San Juan Capistrano Costco and you start questioning every life choice that led you to buy a 48-pack of toilet paper on a Saturday afternoon? We've all been there. Southern California has some of the busiest warehouses in the world, so any news about expansion usually feels like a personal gift from the retail gods.
Honestly, the region is getting a bit of a breather. Costco is officially opening new locations in Southern California during its 2025 fiscal year, and if you’re living in the Inland Empire or near South L.A., your errands are about to get a lot more interesting. It isn't just about more gas pumps—though, let's be real, we always need those—it’s about how the company is changing its entire playbook for the Golden State.
The Highland Warehouse: A New Hub for the Inland Empire
The biggest immediate win for Southern California is the new warehouse in Highland, located in San Bernardino County. If you've spent any time driving up toward Big Bear or Lake Arrowhead, you know that the "last stop" for snacks and supplies is usually a frantic scramble.
Located at 28000 Greenspot Road, this store officially joined the roster in early 2025. It’s a massive 150,000-square-foot facility that basically serves as a relief valve for the San Bernardino and Redlands stores, which have been bursting at the seams for years.
What's actually cool about this spot? It's the logistics.
- Gas Station Efficiency: They built this one with the high-capacity fuel island, meant to handle the weekend mountain crowds.
- The "Mountain" Factor: Expect this location to carry more seasonal gear for the San Bernardino Mountains compared to your average coastal store.
- Job Growth: We're looking at roughly 300 to 400 local jobs, which is a significant bump for the Highland area.
People were literally camping out before the ribbon-cutting. It’s that classic Costco mania. You’ve got the local mayor showing up, the giant scissors, and people sprinting for the limited-edition Bourbon or the $1.50 hot dog. It’s a scene.
The South L.A. Mixed-Use Experiment
Now, if you want to talk about something that's actually "disruptive" (a word I usually hate, but it fits here), we have to talk about Baldwin Hills.
For years, South Los Angeles has been looking for more high-quality grocery options. But L.A. real estate is a nightmare. There's no space. So, Costco and the developer Thrive Living did something weird: they're building a Costco with 800 apartments on top of it.
Construction kicked off in early 2025 at the site on 5035 W. Coliseum St. This is the first of its kind in the United States.
Basically, you have a 185,000-square-foot warehouse on the ground floor and two levels of underground parking. Above that? Five floors of housing. It’s sort of a "Costco Urban Village." About 184 of those units are set aside for low-income households, which is a big deal for a neighborhood that has historically been underserved.
Why this matters for the future of shopping
Most people get wrong that Costco only wants giant suburban parking lots. This Baldwin Hills project proves they are willing to go vertical. If you live in L.A., you know the nightmare of the Marina del Rey or Culver City parking lots. By building housing directly into the site, they're testing a model that could eventually roll out to San Diego or San Francisco.
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The 2025 Strategy: By the Numbers
Costco CEO Ron Vachris and CFO Gary Millerchip have been pretty transparent about the "aggressive" 2025 goals. Across the whole company, they’re looking to open about 29 new warehouses this fiscal year.
California always gets a huge chunk of that budget because the volume here is insane. For context, the new store that opened in Pleasanton (Northern California) right at the end of 2024 shattered records with $2.9 million in sales on its very first day. That is why they keep building here despite the high cost of land.
Here is the breakdown of the 2025 California footprint:
- Highland (San Bernardino County): Now open and serving the Inland Empire.
- Brentwood (Bay Area): The other "big" California opening for the spring cycle.
- South L.A. (Baldwin Hills): Under construction with a focus on that mixed-use residential model.
- Mission Viejo: Keep an eye on the standalone gas station project here—it's a rare move for them to build fuel without the store right next to it.
What it's like inside a 2025-era Costco
You might have noticed things are changing when you walk in. They’re getting stricter.
You can’t just flash your card at the door anymore in many Southern California spots. They’ve been rolling out those membership scanners at the entrance. Why? Because people were "borrowing" cards at a rate that started to hurt the bottom line. Since membership fees make up the bulk of Costco's profit, they aren't playing around.
Also, expect more self-checkout kiosks. While some retailers are pulling back on self-checkout (looking at you, Target and Walmart), Costco is doubling down but with more staff oversight to keep the lines moving.
Actionable Tips for SoCal Members
If you’re planning to visit the new Highland location or you're waiting for the L.A. site to finish, here's how to actually navigate the 2025 landscape:
- Download the App Now: They are finally pushing digital membership cards and "warehouse search" features that actually work. You can check gas prices at the Highland location before you drive out there.
- The "Tuesday" Rule: It still applies. Everyone goes to the new stores on Saturdays. If you want to see the new Highland layout without losing your mind, go Tuesday at 10:00 AM.
- Look for the "Asterisk": On price tags in these new stores, the asterisk (*) means the item is being discontinued. In a brand-new store, they often overstock "grand opening specials" that won't come back once they're gone.
Costco isn't just a store in California; it's a lifestyle. These new 2025 locations show that the company is trying to solve the two biggest complaints we have: the crowds in the Inland Empire and the lack of access in South L.A.
If you're heading out to Highland, make sure to check the Greenspot Road traffic first. That area is transforming fast, and the Costco "halo effect" usually means new Starbucks and Chick-fil-As are right around the corner.
To stay ahead of the crowds, you can check the official Costco warehouse locator for the exact holiday hours and gas station opening times for the Highland branch. If you're interested in the South L.A. residential project, keeping tabs on Thrive Living's project updates will give you the first look at when those 800 apartment units officially hit the rental market.