Costco wants to build a bigger warehouse in Tumwater, and a popular Olympia food truck hopes to follow it there.

The retailer is proposing a 166,000-square-foot store at 2413 73rd Ave. SW, near the southwest corner of Interstate 5 and Tumwater Boulevard.

The new building would replace Costco's current location at 5500 Littlerock Road SW, which opened in 1991 and measures roughly 143,000 square feet.

Tumwater Community Development Director Brad Medrud told The Olympian on Tuesday, July 28, that Costco representatives were preparing to appear before the city's Development Review Committee for a pre-application meeting. "Essentially they're getting ready to submit their (land-use) application, and we're doing a final check through," Medrud said.

The meeting was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 31.

What the site plan shows

A concept site plan dated March 17, 2026, and reported by The Daily Chronicle, includes a gas station, a car wash, a tree tract, and 1,037 parking spaces.

Five additional open lots on the site could accommodate other businesses. A new road and roundabout would connect the main parking lot to 11th Avenue SW and the existing roundabout at Tumwater Boulevard SW and Littlerock Road SW.

The proposed site sits about two miles from the current Littlerock Road store.

Why Costco says it needs to move

At a Development Review Committee meeting in approximately January 2025, Costco representative Brian Whelan cited inadequate parking, configuration constraints, and the need to "right-size" the facility for its member base, according to The Olympian's reporting. Whelan said anyone who shops the current store knows the parking limitations.

The 23,000-square-foot expansion and 1,023-space main lot would address those complaints directly.

Food truck eyes brick-and-mortar near new site

Buns of Glory, a year-old food truck at 2915 Yelm Hwy. SE in Olympia, is looking at retail space in the new development. Co-owners Jon McCaslin and Jereme Johnson started the truck after years of talking about going into business together. McCaslin also works at Tri-City Meats in Olympia.

Johnson told The Olympian on Sunday, July 26, that the truck has outgrown its current format. "I think people would rather come indoors," Johnson said. "And with a bigger space and a more efficient kitchen, we could actually turn food faster."

The owners are seeking a permanent location with a drive-thru near the proposed Costco site. The truck serves burgers, fries, and chicken sandwiches.

What's next

No final approvals or construction start dates have been announced. The project remains in the pre-application stage, with Costco preparing to formally submit its land-use application to the city. Tumwater residents who shop the Littlerock Road store can expect the current warehouse to stay open while the planning process continues.