From Staff Reports

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The City of Asheville “is back in talks with Costco Wholesale regarding the opening of a store in the city,” Mayor Esther Manheimer told the Asheville Citizen Times on June 17, the newspaper reported later on the same day.

The retailer originally withdrew its application in February, citing escalating costs for on- and off-site infrastructure improvements, required traffic changes by the N.C. Department of Transportation, and local leadership challenges.

Following the withdrawal, city and state officials scrambled to salvage the project, recognizing the massive public demand for a store that could lower grocery costs and bring 300 well-paying jobs.

The primary turning points in resurrecting the project include the following:

• Infrastructure relief: City leaders are applying for state commerce grants to extend necessary sewer infrastructure to the site.

• Roadway solutions: Mayor Manheimer has collaborated with state lawmakers to address the costly traffic study and road modification requirements mandated by the state transportation department along the Smoky Park Highway corridor.

• Next steps: The mayor cautions the project is not a done deal yet. Costco must put the property back under contract and formally resubmit its 160,000-square-foot proposal for the Enka Commerce Park site.

As for Costco, the company wants to establish a location in Asheville, but its officials have said they found the development process and infrastructure demands highly frustrating.

The relationship between the retail giant and the city involves a series of ongoing push-and-pull dynamics, including the following:

• Initial pullout (February): Costco officially withdrew its zoning application for a proposed store at the Enka Commerce Park. The company cited that state and city demands for on-site and off-site improvements (like traffic infrastructure) had escalated the project’s timeline and costs too much

• A harsher assessment: Developers involved in the project expressed that the Asheville/Buncombe County area is considered one of the most difficult regions to get approvals due to stringent entry barriers.

• Renewed talks (summer 2026): Despite the withdrawal, Costco representatives reached out to city officials, including Mayor Manheimer, to discuss a potential return. Local leaders acknowledged that the initial demands may have been too steep and are exploring whether they can offer an accelerated process and more flexible requirements

• Community reaction: The Costco situation  has been highly debated locally, drawing reactions ranging from frustration over “anti-growth” regulations to concerns about traffic on already busy highways.