Kansas City neighbors pack meeting Tuesday night as Midtown Costco to become to business center

July 8, 2026 - 02:09

Costco store leaders held a meeting Tuesday night at the Westport branch of the Kansas City Public Library to lay out plans to change the midtown Kansas City Costco into a business center location. The event drew a packed crowd of neighbors and local business owners eager to understand what the shift means for the area.

The proposed change would convert the existing retail warehouse into a Costco Business Center, which focuses on bulk sales to restaurants, offices, and other commercial customers. Unlike a standard Costco, these centers typically offer larger quantities of food service items, cleaning supplies, and office essentials, with less emphasis on general household goods and electronics.

Residents expressed mixed reactions during the meeting. Some worried about losing a convenient shopping option for everyday groceries, while others saw potential benefits for local small businesses. Costco representatives explained that the decision came after studying customer traffic patterns and market demand in the midtown area. They assured attendees that current employees would be offered positions at other nearby locations or kept on staff for the new center.

No official timeline for the conversion was announced Tuesday night, but the company said it will share more details in the coming weeks. The meeting ended with a promise from Costco to hold additional community forums as plans take shape.