Some people camp out for concert tickets. In South Meridian, people camp out for Costco.
When the new warehouse at Lake Hazel and Meridian roads opened on Nov. 5, the first guy in line said he got there at 4 a.m. Others beat him by an hour and a half, and one group planned to stay overnight. [1] By early afternoon, Costco's regional marketing manager guessed thousands of shoppers had already been through. He called it "one of the bigger [crowds] that I've seen from openings in the Northwest." [2]
I haven't made my own run yet. I'm waiting for the hot dog crowd to calm down a little. In the meantime, I did the homework so you can show up prepared.
The Basics
Address: 203 E. Tower Ln., Meridian, near Lake Hazel and Meridian roads, right by the Kuna line. [3]
Phone: (208) 576-7183 [3]
Opened: Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026 [2][3]
Meridian is now the first city in Idaho with two Costcos. The other one is on Chinden Boulevard at Ten Mile. That also means the Treasure Valley now has half of all the Costcos in the state, with Boise (Cole Road) and Nampa rounding out the four. [2]
Hours
The warehouse runs the usual Boise-area Costco schedule: [3]
Executive members: 9 a.m.–8:30 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m.–7 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday
Gold Star & Business members: 10 a.m.–8:30 p.m. weekdays, 9:30 a.m.–7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday
Gas station: 6 a.m.–10 p.m. weekdays, 6 a.m.–8:30 p.m. Saturday, 6 a.m.–7:30 p.m. Sunday
Heads up: The warehouse is closed on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26). If you're planning a last-minute pie run, plan for Wednesday instead.
What's Different About This One
This isn't just a copy of the Chinden store with a new parking lot.
It's the biggest Costco in the Treasure Valley. The building is about 200,000 square feet on a roughly 24-acre site. [1] It's that big because it has a 30,000-square-foot market-delivery operation. That's the back-of-house space that handles home delivery of big, bulky items like refrigerators and washers. It's the first one in the Treasure Valley. [2] You'll probably never see that part of the building, but your next fridge might come out of it.
The gas station is big too. Idaho Press and the Idaho Statesman both say it has 16 pumps. Idaho News 6 counted 18 and noted it sells diesel. [2][1] Either way, it's a lot of pumps. And it's open until 10 p.m. on weeknights. [3]
The usual departments are all here: tire center, pharmacy, optical and hearing aids. Each department keeps its own hours, so check before you head out if you're going for a specific one.
Getting There (and Parking)
The lot has 903 stalls. On opening day it was full before 9 a.m. [2]
The roads around it are still a work in progress. New traffic signals went in at the Meridian Road and Lake Hazel Road entrances this fall. Brighton Corp. is also paying for a big upgrade to Meridian Road (State Highway 69) through Idaho's STAR sales-tax program. That includes widening about a mile of SH-69 and adding a new signal at Lake Hazel and Aristocrat Drive. Expect some cones for a while.
My strategy, based on everything above:
Go on a weekday morning or evening. Avoid Saturday afternoons, especially during the holiday rush.
Fill up early or late. The pumps open at 6 a.m.
If you live up north, stick with Chinden for now. The new store is a big deal for South Meridian, Kuna and Melba. People in line on opening day said their old Costco runs took 30 to 45 minutes each way. [1][2]
Thinking About Joining?
Memberships come in Gold Star, Business and Executive tiers, and you have to be at least 16 to sign up. Costco advertised a new-member deal for this opening: a $20 digital Costco Shop Card with Gold Star or a $40 card with Executive, running through Dec. 6. It requires auto-renewal, plus a few other conditions. Read the fine print at the membership counter before you sign up.
What's Next Door
The warehouse is only the first piece of Brighton's larger Pinnacle development at this corner. More commercial buildings, homes and apartments are planned around it. The next phase, called Momentum, is working its way through the city right now. Keep an eye on that dirt.
The Verdict (So Far)
On paper, this is the Costco South Meridian has been waiting years for. It's close to home, it's huge, the gas station stays open late, and it's the only one in the Valley with a big-item delivery hub. Mayor Robert Simison summed it up at the ribbon cutting: "This one's near my house. I don't have to drive eight miles to north Meridian." [2]
As soon as the crowds thin out, I'll be in line for a $1.50 hot dog like everybody else. If you've already been, tell me: did you go in for one thing and walk out $400 later? [1]
— Man of Meridian
