A new Costco location is on the horizon.
Costco is breaking ground on a Milwaukee County location this week in Franklin, according to a spokesperson for the wholesaler.
Milwaukee County Location
The Milwaukee County location is going to be a 164,000-square-foot facility built on more than 20 acres of land. The original plan was for a 162,000-square-foot structure, though Costco later added 2,000 square feet to the building.
It is located at South 27th Street and West Drexel Avenue. Along with the store, the Costco location will have a 12-pump gas station at the south end and 868 parking spots.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Costco purchased the property from Northwestern Mutual on May 1st for $4.625 million. The location previously served as Northwestern Mutual’s Franklin campus.
The existing office buildings to the north will not be affected, though the company’s employees will transition to a redeveloped office building in downtown Milwaukee once it’s finished in 2027.
Announcement
It’s not just Costco shoppers who are excited about the new location. Franklin Mayor John Nelson has also commented on the build, saying the planning process has been both long and exciting.
“I want to thank the Costco team for choosing our community to build its first store in Milwaukee County,” said Nelson.
He added, “Everyone is aware of what this great retail development will bring to our community, and we all worked together seamlessly to get it done.”
He specifically called out Franklin’s Common Council, the city’s Director of Economic Development, John Regetz, and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Nelson also noted that Costco could attract another large tenant to the location, furthering commerce in that area.
The Milwaukee County Costco store received its final approvals in November 2025.
Opening Date
The newest Costco location has a planned opening date of November 2026.
Other Locations Near Milwaukee County
This is the first Costco location in Milwaukee County. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t several other Costco locations in the area.
There are several options around the Milwaukee metro, including Grafton, Menomonee Falls, Pewaukee, New Berlin, and Pleasant Prairie.
The wholesaler is also building a location near Oconomowoc.