Loomis Costco opens to long lines, overnight campers

A long line of people wrapped around the brand new store in Loomis on the morning of May 23, waiting to witness the opening of Costco. The new Costco offers an optical department, pharmacy, tire services and a food court. Confetti flew as Loomis Mayor Stephanie Youngblood helped cut the ribbon while area dignitaries and customers watched and cheered. Youngblood spoke in anticipation of the ribbon cutting, saying, "This is a great opportunity for us to bring revenue to Loomis and stimulate our own economy." The new location offers 350 jobs to Loomis. "We have a lot of people in Loomis who lost their jobs to COVID-19 or had to quit their jobs to stay home with their kids. This is going to be huge for people coming back to work," Youngblood said. She was excited to see how Costco helps Loomis grow. "We're for smart growth. Smart, intelligent growth," Youngblood said. "Costco has already done great things for Loomis because they already actually paved our road right here. This was atrocious. You can now drive down it. It is organized and making our town more beautiful." Youngblood added, "We're very honored that we were chosen to have a Costco here and we're looking forward to it - the camaraderie and revenue, which is much needed." People from all over Northern California lined up two days in advance for an opportunity to purchase speciality liquor. There were limited releases of whiskey and bourbon available. Actor Charlie Day, famous for his role in "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," was also there signing his whiskey brand. The very first customers were all smiles as they exited Costco with their new purchases. Patty Occhialini, a Loomis resident, was thrilled about the new location opening. "I love the location for the ease of getting there. I used to dread going to Costco, but with the new location, I'm sure I will shop there more," she said. Occhialini felt the opening day went smoothly from a customer's perspective. "Opening day was surprisingly easy because they had so many people and all the check stands open," she said. "I didn't wait in line at all when it was time to check out." The new location is located on Sierra College Blvd. just off Interstate 80. For more information, visit https://www.costco.com/warehouse-locations/loomis-ca-1371.html.