A new Costco warehouse may soon rise in Lawrence, Kansas, giving residents their first local membership store. The project would add a major retail anchor to the growing area around Rock Chalk Park, northwest of downtown.
City planners received the proposal in October 2025. It outlines a 22.6-acre site south of LMH Health West Campus and north of West 6th Street. The parcel sits off Mercato Drive near George Williams Way. Plans call for a 158,000-square-foot warehouse, 24 fuel pumps, and more than 800 parking spots.
Timeline: From Farmland to Development Site
August 2003 – This part of northwest Lawrence was farmland surrounded by trees and gravel roads. The nearby interchange existed, but the fields dominated the view.
September 2025 – The same land shows grading and a new road network through Mercato Drive. Rock Chalk Park and nearby neighborhoods now frame the open tract, one of the last major sites along West 6th Street.
About Costco
Costco Wholesale, founded in 1983 in Seattle, runs more than 875 warehouses worldwide. The chain is known for low prices, bulk goods, and affordable fuel. If approved, the Lawrence store would fill the retail gap between Topeka and Kansas City, saving residents long drives for warehouse shopping.
Last Updated on November 5, 2025 by F.E.M