Idaho’s newest Costco is an unusually big one, but shoppers cannot wander through all 200,342 square feet of its building. More than 26,000 square feet are reserved for something most members will never see: a delivery operation tucked behind the retail space.
The South Meridian warehouse opened November 5 at 203 E. Tower Lane, near the Kuna city line. It gives residents another place to use their Costco membership perks, while also supporting deliveries of oversized purchases.
Why part of the Costco is closed to shoppers
The restricted area is called Market Delivery Operations, or MDO. It’s a fulfillment space for large, bulky products delivered to customers’ homes, not another section of shopping aisles.
According to BoiseDev’s reporting on the project, the MDO takes up 26,036 square feet. Subtract that from the entire building and the regular warehouse accounts for about 174,306 square feet.
That’s still sizable. But the unusual setup matters when comparing store sizes: the building is not all customer-facing retail space. BoiseDev notes that Costco’s Idaho Falls warehouse has roughly 180,000 square feet without a comparable delivery area, while the existing North Meridian store measures about 152,000 square feet.
Despite the additional fulfillment space, this is a regular Costco warehouse, not a Costco Business Center. Members can shop for groceries and household staples as they would at a conventional location.
What the new Idaho Costco offers
Costco’s official warehouse directory lists a food court, pharmacy, optical department, hearing aid services, tire center and gas station at the South Meridian site.
The new store sits near Lake Hazel Road and Meridian Road in the growing Pinnacle development. Plans for nearby commercial space have also advanced through Meridian’s planning process, although that does not mean every proposed tenant or building is already open.
Executive members can enter the warehouse at 9 a.m. daily. Gold Star and Business members generally enter at 10 a.m. on weekdays, 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. on Sundays. Costco lists earlier weekday hours for the gas station, starting at 6 a.m.
There’s also a membership promotion
For eligible new members, Costco is advertising a $20 Digital Costco Shop Card with a Gold Star membership or a $40 card with an Executive membership at the South Meridian opening. Costco says customers must join before December 6, 2026, to qualify; shoppers should review the offer’s conditions before signing up.
Those cards aren’t the same as cash. Costco says Digital Shop Cards can be used for eligible merchandise purchases but cannot be redeemed at U.S. food-court kiosks.
One more date to remember during the holiday rush: Costco’s warehouse listing shows both the South Meridian store and its gas station closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 26. For people planning a first visit, the official address and operating hours are worth checking before heading out.
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