Celina residents are celebrating as they plan to welcome a Costco to the neighborhood in 2024. News of the big-box retailer came shortly after a Starbucks was built over the summer.
With only 24,000 residents as of 2021 estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau, Celina, Texas, will be the smallest city to host a Costco. According to the city planners, Celina will have an estimated population of 59,000 in 2026 and is “expected to nearly quadruple in population and nearly triple in employment over the next 22 years.”
On September 30, city leaders confirmed the Costco’s construction on the southwest corner of Ownsby Parkway and Preston Road. The Seitz Group will develop both the Costco and the surrounding strip. The deal, which took seven years to negotiate, was largely secured through the efforts of Celina Economic Development Corporation (EDC) director, Corbett Howard.
“Man it’s awesome,” said Celina Mayor Sean Terry to NBC. “We’d meet with them, talk to them and sell Celina and you know five years ago nobody knew where Celina was.”
Matthew Kiran of REX real estate mirrored Terry’s excitement.
“[Costco] is the first national retailer to locate to Celina of this size and quality, which is going to open the floodgates for other businesses, restaurants, and lift the tide for everybody in the community,” said Kiran.
The new Costco and retailers in the surrounding area are expected to bring 1,000 to 1,400 jobs to the community.
Also, likely leading to growth in the city is the Dallas North Tollway Authority’s debut of a tollway extension that connects FM 428 to 455.
Still, as the city grows, residents are committed to keeping the small-town charm that won them the Scenic City of the Year Award in 2022.
“[Celina is] very school-centered, very church-centered,” said Kyle Rose, resident since 2001 and board president of the EDC. “We work really hard to maintain that small-town charm.”
Only having lived here two years, I have never felt more welcomed,” resident Brian Bender told The Dallas Express. “From Friday Night football games and tailgate parties in the parking lot to markets and festivals. There’s a reason why people want to move to Celina,”
The City of Celina released a comprehensive plan to manage growth through 2040 and keep Celina a family-oriented, safe place to live.
“I believe we’re really one of the best-planned cities in the metroplex,” said Jason Laumer, Celina city manager.
“Our residents take such pride in our city, and as a result, people around the State have designed our city with this great honor. With a storied past and an exciting future, the City of Celina truly is the best place to work and live in Texas.”
