Costco's newest store in Camarillo, California, is set to open on October 30 after a years-long legal battle over environmental concerns. Spanning 160,000 square feet, the warehouse includes amenities like a food court and gas station and will offer products not available at older locations. The development was initially approved in 2023 but faced delays due to litigation from Ventura County Citizens Against Mega Gas; however, recent court rulings have cleared the way for its opening. Local officials anticipate economic benefits and reduced "retail leakage" as shoppers stay within Camarillo instead of traveling to other cities.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-12,
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Story summary
After years of litigation and anticipation, Camarillo is set to open its own Costco Wholesale store on October 30, located at 160,000 square feet on West Ventura Boulevard between Highway 101 and the Camarillo Airport. The warehouse will feature a food court, bakery, pharmacy, optical center, hearing aid center, and tire service center, offering products like sushi that are not available in older branches. Despite initial approval by the Camarillo Planning Commission in 2023, the project faced delays when Ventura County Citizens Against Mega Gas sued the city in 2024, claiming inadequate environmental review. The development includes a 32-pump gas station and over 877 parking spots.
Written for “Costco Store Opening Controversy” on 2026-09-12,
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Costco’s newest store is about to open in SoCal after years of litigation
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store → open → litigation
After years of litigation and anticipation, Camarillo is getting its own Costco Wholesale outpost.
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Camarillo → get → outpost
Michael Okuma, Costco’s director of real estate development, confirmed that the newest warehouse is scheduled to open to shoppers on Oct. 30.
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warehouse → confirm → Oct.
Located on West Ventura Boulevard between Highway 101 and the Camarillo Airport, the 160,000-square-foot warehouse will have a food court, bakery, pharmacy, optical center, hearing aid center and tire service center.
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warehouse → locate → court
The facility will also offer a wider product selection, including items such as sushi, that aren’t available at older, smaller branches.
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that → offer → branches
The new Costco also has a 32-pump gas station, which began operating in May.
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which → have → May
It will have more than 877 parking spots.
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It → have → spots
The Camarillo Planning Commission initially approved the development project in 2023, with the location slated to open in 2024.
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location → approve → 2024
The development was delayed after a community group called Ventura County Citizens Against Mega Gas sued the city in 2024, alleging that it failed to conduct a proper environmental review.
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it → delay → review
A Ventura County Superior Court judge ruled for the city, but the citizens’ group appealed the decision.
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group → rule → decision
The legal battle ended earlier this year when an appeals court issued a final ruling in favor of the city.
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court → end → city
Ventura County Citizens Against Mega Gas didn’t respond to a request for comment.
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Citizens → respond → comment
“This is a tremendous win for Camarillo,” City Manager Greg Ramirez said in a statement about the ruling.
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Ramirez → say → ruling
“We are thrilled to welcome Costco to our community and proud of the persistence and dedication that made this possible.
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this → thrill → persistence
Costco will not only provide shopping convenience for our residents, but also strengthen our local economy and create new jobs.
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Costco → provide → jobs
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“We are hearing nothing but excitement in the community,” said Camarillo’s economic and business development manager, Georg Winkler.
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manager → hear → community
“We’re all anticipating going and shopping there, and changing our weekend routines.”
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We → anticipate → routines
Before Costco’s Camarillo opening, bulk shoppers had traveled to neighboring cities such as Oxnard, Simi Valley and Westlake.
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shoppers → travel → Oxnard
“This will help us recapture what we call retail leakage from the other cities, and keep the Camarillo residents in Camarillo,” Winkler said.
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Winkler → help → Camarillo
Another incentive is Camarillo’s low sales tax of 7.25%, compared with Oxnard’s 9.25%.
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incentive → compare → %
Amid heightened economic anxiety and inflation, shoppers are increasingly looking for ways to save.
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shoppers → heighten → ways
As a result, discount retailers such as Ross, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and Home Goods have seen stronger business and surging shares.
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retailers → see → business
Despite being a Costco shopper, Joan Handzel is more concerned that the new warehouse will increase traffic in her neighborhood nearby on Springville.
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warehouse → increase → Springville
The 86-year-old resident signed the lawsuit against the city and Costco because of those fears.
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resident → sign → fears
With the store’s grand opening nearly one month away, Handzel says most of her neighbors are excited to shop there.
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most → say → neighbors
“I don’t think they’ve anticipated what kind of traffic we’re going to have,” she said.
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she → think → traffic
“They don’t realize that on Ventura Boulevard, it’s going to be packed.”
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it → realize → Boulevard
