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Costco, the popular membership-based wholesale retailer, has filed plans to build a 166,000-square foot building in Clayton. Costco plans to also open a 24-pump station on the 87-acre field located at 12649 Clayton Boulevard. This would be the first Costco in Johnston County.
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The lot was sold by real estate developer CASTO who recently sold nearby land to another major retailer moving to the area, Target. The News & Observer previously reported that the sale is a part of a larger West Edge development plan in the area.
CASTO could not be reached for comment.
The $100 million proposal was first reported by Triangle Business Journal on Monday, July 6.
Retailers moving to the area is in response to the fluctuating population growth in recent years. U.S. Census records show that 2025 population estimates sat around 32,600 people with the median age being 33-years-old. In 2020, the population was around 26,300, and in 2010 it was around 16,100.
Additionally, census data shows that 73% of residents contribute to the workforce and the median household income sits at $78,882. Clayton is Johnston County’s largest municipality. Smithfield trails behind significantly with around 13,000 residents.
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Under different developers, Aldi has begun construction in the Clayton area as well, The N&O reported in early June. The grocery chain and Wimco Corp, a contractor group, has yet to announce an opening date.
Currently, the county is not home to many wholesale grocery stores. For Clayton, the nearest BJ’s Wholesale Club is in neighboring Garner or in Selma, another Johnston County municipality. The closest Costco to the proposed new development is at 7800 Fayetteville Road in Raleigh, a 25-minute drive.
Within Clayton town limits, the chain grocery retailers are Lowes Food, Walmart and Food Lion. The area holds a handful of locally or family owned grocery stores that will be impacted by the series of larger businesses moving in.
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This story has been updated.
This story was originally published July 7, 2026 at 1:14 PM.