“Raise your hands those who are here for the PlayStation,” asks an employee. In a second, he managed to count several dozen. It was not yet 6:30 a.m. and yet customers were anxiously waiting to enter the brand new Costco warehouse in Anjou, which opened on Wednesday.
With its 155,733 square feet – an area 20 times larger than that of the old Costco warehouse in Anjou located about four kilometers away – its largest variety of organic products, its gas station, its new service of hearing aids and its items for businesses, the store, which began construction four months ago, has been called “the best warehouse he has seen” by Gino Dorico, senior vice president and general manager of the east of Canada from Costco.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Gino Dorico, Senior Vice President and General Manager Eastern Canada at Costco.
But on this chilly and breezy October morning, it was not the variety of products or the larger restaurant space that drove shoppers off. Rather, it was the almost impossible to find PlayStation 5 game console that got people out of bed.
“We open, we have the PS5 console, there are no more on the market. People knew it. The news got around. People are excited. They know that we have it today… maybe for the first hour, ”says with a laugh Martine Bouthillier, general manager of the new Anjou store, who arrived on site at 4:30 am Wednesday morning to get ready, with 200 other employees, on this opening day. The store had 432 consoles in stock and it was the only Costco warehouse where video game enthusiasts could get them. Price displayed: $ 809
“Did you come for the PlayStation?” We asked two young men waiting in line for the store to open. “We’re not here for the mayo sure,” replied one of them, also an employee of the warehouse. I’ll go back to wear (my purchase) and come back to work at 9 a.m. ”
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
More service to businesses
In addition, after opening its first Costco for the company in Quebec in September 2020, in Saint-Hubert, the brand seems determined to reproduce this concept, whose products in larger volumes are mainly intended for restaurants, convenience stores and offices. of professionals. This is also the vocation that the former Costco d’Anjou will have next year.
Until then, restaurateurs will still be able to come and do their shopping at the new warehouse since we have decided to offer several products to businesses, confirmed Martine Bouthillier. “We have mixed our offer with volume products, which means items that merchants may want to come and pick up. We went to look for some 20 company products that we also offer here. ”
Meat slicers, commercial microwave ovens and condiments such as mayonnaise sold in bulk are just a few examples of the products offered in the new establishment, which has a total of 467 employees.
“I think there are a lot of opportunities out there,” says Dorico, referring to the business concept. We have a lot of success at the warehouse in Saint-Hubert. They serve the city center a lot. We are thinking of taking the market further north. ”
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Gino Dorico and General Manager Martine Bouthillier cut the ribbon signifying the official opening of the warehouse
In addition to the Anjou one, Costco plans to open a third corporate warehouse in the greater Toronto area. “There is a good chance that in a few years, there will be three of us in the greater Montreal area,” says Gino Dorico.
Regarding more “classic” stores, Mr. Dorico confirms that there will be “at least 4 or 5 new warehouses within two to four years” in Quebec, particularly in the Laval region and in Pointe-Claire.