Costco
 

How far is Costco from The Villages? Is it an easy drive?

Altamonte Springs (Orlando suburb). About 1.25 - 1.5 hour drive depending on traffic. We take the turnpike (tolls).

The one in Wesley Chaple is 54 minutes from the Fenny area down I-75 with no tolls.

From Lake Sumter Landing the Altamonte Springs location is 64 miles. The Wesley Chapel location is 65 miles, but I think it is an easier drive because it is located on the I-75 Interstate. Also, there is are a lot of other stores at that location.

Next year, there will be a new Costco in Clermont, which will be about 45 miles.

Still waiting for the one to be built here

What choice do you have?

FYI, there is a new Costco scheduled to open in Pudong, China in March 2023, only about 7,500 miles from The Villages.

So far our choices are Sams and BJ's and have membership to both. When it is open will look at Waze and see how we can get there by planes, trains and auto's.

Plus, there will be a lot of other shops there. Even one selling those crispy roasted cockroaches.

As the old saying goes, Try it you will like it:undecided:

LOL
Don't see why people love Costco. I haven't found it much better or cheaper than Walmart myself.

We go to Wesley Chapel Costco. We take I-75 and it takes about one hour and 10 minutes. One time, on a Sunday morning, it took us 55 minutes to get there.

Costco is coming to a location in Clermont. We drove to the site where construction had not begun yet and it took us 45 minutes to get there. That location will be where we will be going to Costco.

For us, it is not about saving money. Costco has products that I can not find anywhere else. That is a fact.

We like Costco because of the people working there. It is always a good experience. I have returned a few things, too, and it was very easy to do. No surly employees to deal with!

Where can you buy a $20K diamond ring, and return it 10 years later and get a full refund?

Costco employees are happy employees. Costco has a great retention level of employees.

Really? I know Costco has a great return policy but that is out of this world.

Yes, there's no time limit for returns, except for certain electronics products. And they sell high priced jewelry up to $80 to $100K.

Most jewelry stores will never give you a refund, only an exchange within a few weeks after purchase.

You can't beat that!

We like the $4.99 rotisserie chicken. My wife brought a whole chicken home from Publix for me to cook on the smoker. The price was $13.00. I asked her never to do that again. lol

Depends upon where you live. We are in the Spanish Springs area and closest/fastest time Costco is about 1 hour away near the Millenial Mall(1-4 and Turnpike). Closest, but not fastest is Altamonte Springs.

Costco about 1 hour away… do you have Mapquest or one of many GPS options? The DMV should consider testing Senior cognitive skills

Sams and BJs also sell the same chicken but we think Sams tastes better.

Supposedly they are a loss leader for all three big box stores

I submitted feedback on Costco's site asking for a Costco in the Villages. They'll probably ignore it, but I figured it can't hurt to ask.

Clermont location is almost finished.

It is not even listed as a future store, and it is not on their schedule to open within the the next 6 months.

No kidding. Have been to Sam's and Costco. Basically the same, and there's one in Lady Lake.

This would suggest that construction hasn’t even started.

Costco / Clermont

Very strange

Sams and BJ's questions
 

Never been to Sams or BJ's. Do you do weekly shopping there? Is that how it pays for the price of membership?... and if so why be a member of TWO discount places? Thanks

A great stock to own

Each place has some different offerings. Been a member of Sams for 30 years and just joined BG's when new store opened.

Going back and forth but probably will keep both memberships.

One big advantage of BJ is a very good deli counter. Sams has pharmacy.

We like the fruits and vegetables at both stores and do go weekly for the most part.

Per friend of ours in Clermont, they just started.

Thank you for the information. Waiting patiently for this Costco to be ready for customers. (Actually, I can't wait!!!!)

Can anyone give me a reason why Costco ignores building around are near TV??

We’re not really their target demographic. They rely more on families that buy in bulk not old folks that tend to buy less. Add in the seasonal fluctuation of the population and it makes us even less attractive.

That being said. Maybe now with all the multi family housing being built on the periphery of The Villages and the impending construction of Middleton, we might start to look a little more viable.

Apparently they just started construction however according to others it is almost done.

Cant wait until someone figures this out

Why don’t you drive down there and take a look? What better way to “figure this out”. Let us know what you find.

On their website, the future store openings are scheduled out to March 2023, but the Clermont store is not listed. So, apparently, you have at least another 6 months or longer to wait.

There is a lot of building construction in the area, but it is not clear whether it is the Costco store or other stores that are planned for the area. It could be that they want to complete the surrounding store construction before opening the Costco.

I would but in the middle of cataract surgery so not willing to drive that far. I hereby deputize you to do it.

Nah. I figure it’ll open when it opens. In the meantime I’ll be happy making the drive to Wesley Chapel.

Good luck with the peepers. That eye stuff gives me the willies.