East Cobb shoppers who fill up at the Costco on Barrett Parkway will need to find another pump for the next four months.
The gas station at the Town Center Costco, 645 Barrett Parkway NW in Kennesaw, shut down Wednesday, July 15, for an expansion of the fueling facility, the Marietta Daily Journal reported. The station will remain closed until November, according to MDJ staff writer Megan Jackson. The warehouse store itself stays open during construction.
Costco's website for the Town Center Kennesaw location (store No. 189) confirms the closure, listing gas station hours as "Closed" every day of the week. The last posted fuel prices show regular at $3.329 per gallon and premium at $4.099, though neither grade is available to members while work is underway.
Costco hasn't said how many pumps will be added or provided a specific reopening date beyond November. No building permit for the project appeared in Cobb County or City of Kennesaw online records as of Thursday, July 16.
Why East Cobb shoppers feel it
The Barrett Parkway location is one of the closest warehouse-club fuel stops for East Cobb residents, who have no Costco gas station in unincorporated East Cobb itself. Members on review sites describe the station as "very busy with long lines" even before the expansion. Costco typically prices fuel 20 to 40 cents below nearby competitors, according to automotive site The Drive, which helps explain the crowds.
That popularity tracks with a broader trend. Costco reported in its fiscal third-quarter earnings in late May that gasoline comparable-store sales rose more than 20% year over year. CFO Gary Millerchip noted on the company's March 5 earnings call that higher prices drive members to Costco pumps: "When prices are higher, that will tend to cause members to maybe take the extra mile that it might involve to get to the gas station because of the incremental value they see there."
What's next
Members who need discounted fuel during the closure can check Costco's website or app for the nearest open station. The gas station is expected to reopen sometime in November, though Costco has not announced an exact date.
