Costco Wholesale has officially opened its eleventh Canadian Business Centre in Winnipeg, marking the first such facility in Manitoba and creating significant economic opportunities for the local community. The new centre represents a strategic expansion of Costco's specialized business services across Canada.
A Major Conversion Project with Substantial Impact
The 137,000 square-foot Business Centre occupies the site of the former Costco warehouse at 1315 St. James Street, which recently relocated to 4077 Portage Avenue West. This conversion project has transformed the space into a dedicated business-focused facility that has already generated 190 new local employment positions. The opening demonstrates Costco's commitment to supporting Winnipeg's business ecosystem with tailored solutions.
Specialized Offerings for Business Clients
Unlike traditional Costco warehouses, the Business Centre concept features a dramatically different product mix, with more than 70 percent of items being unique to business customers. The facility caters specifically to restaurants, offices, convenience stores, and businesses of all sizes with thousands of high-quality items available in industrial-sized quantities.
Key features of the Winnipeg Business Centre include:
- A comprehensive selection of professional kitchenware, expanded grocery items, and office supplies
- A full-service Costco Pharmacy with operating hours matching the warehouse's business-friendly schedule
- A substantial 14,000 square-foot cooler facility for perishable items
- An indoor loading area for convenient product handling
- A dedicated next-day delivery service utilizing a fleet of six trucks serving a designated delivery zone across Winnipeg
Business-Friendly Operations and Exclusive Promotions
The Winnipeg Business Centre operates with extended hours designed to accommodate business needs: Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Members can access the same products both in-store and online through Costcobusinesscentre.ca.
During the opening week, the centre is offering substantial promotional savings including:
- $110 off a Eurodib single heavy-duty induction cooker
- $40 off per unit of Canada ungraded beef tenderloin
- $30 off a Sagetra 3-tier wire basket cart
The location also features exclusive items available only at this Business Centre, such as a 208-liter barrel of Terra Delyssa Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a full wheel of 13-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, and local favorites including an 11.4-liter tub of Prairie West ice cream in various flavors and a 24 x 473 mL case of Farmery Craft Soda.
Leadership Perspective on the Expansion
"We are thrilled to open our doors and offer this new service, which will better respond to the needs of local business owners," said Marc-André Bally, Senior Vice President Western Canada and Business Centres. "The Costco Business Centre concept is already a resounding success in other parts of the country, and we look forward to offering the same benefits to businesses in Winnipeg and surrounding areas. This site previously served Winnipeg members for 35 years, and we are excited for this new chapter as a hub for the local business community."
The Winnipeg opening represents a significant milestone in Costco's Canadian expansion strategy, bringing specialized business services to Manitoba for the first time while creating substantial employment opportunities and supporting the local economy through tailored product offerings and convenient services.
