Costco to Anchor Seminole Towne Center Revitalization with 2027 Opening

Sanford city officials said on January 8 that a Costco warehouse is planned for the Seminole Towne Center site, occupying the former Macy’s footprint and adjacent parking. The facility is expected to have an approximate store footprint of 156,454 square feet, include an on-site gas station, and provide roughly 847 parking spaces. Officials indicated demolition of the existing structures should begin in April 2026, with the warehouse targeted to open in early 2027.

This announcement places Costco at the center of the city’s broader effort to revitalize a major retail node. Converting an anchor department store footprint into a membership warehouse represents a significant change in land use and retail mix. The scale—more than 150,000 square feet and nearly 850 parking spaces—signals a regional draw that will alter customer flows and could boost foot traffic for remaining tenants at the Towne Center.

Local implications are practical and immediate. Construction and demolition scheduled for spring 2026 will generate short-term activity around the mall, and the opening will reshape traffic patterns on surrounding arterials. The addition of an on-site gas station typically increases vehicle trips and can concentrate queuing and curb-side demands at peak hours. City planners and traffic engineers will need to monitor intersection capacities, signal timing, and parking ingress and egress to manage congestion and safety as the project proceeds.

Economically, a large warehouse retailer can broaden the local sales tax base, support construction-period employment, and create ongoing retail and service jobs. The city will also weigh permitting, building inspections, stormwater and environmental mitigation measures, and any off-site infrastructure improvements required as part of approvals. The project’s reuse of an existing developed site could reduce greenfield pressures while shifting property tax and revenue dynamics for Seminole County and the city of Sanford.

Officials noted that while Costco announced several U.S. openings for 2026, the Sanford location had not been listed on Costco’s official site at the time of the city’s announcement, leaving corporate confirmation pending. Next steps are likely to include formal permitting, site-plan reviews, bids for demolition and construction contracts, and traffic studies.

Residents and commuters should expect visible activity at Seminole Towne Center beginning in April 2026 and a construction timeline stretching into 2026 ahead of the anticipated early 2027 opening. City updates and permitting records will provide the clearest timeline and details as the project moves from planning into construction.