Tulsa To Get Oklahoma's First Costco

Tulsa will be getting the first Costco to be built in Oklahoma. The wholesale warehouse club will be located at 103rd and Memorial.

Costco made national news recently when President Obama commended the company for paying $21 an hour and offering benefits to part-time employees.

Now they're making roots in Tulsa, and they plan to hire 200 Tulsans. Costco is choosing Tulsa for its first Oklahoma store. Tulsa City Councilor Phil Lakin says the area the store will be located - 103rd and Memorial - is booming.

"Gosh, it means that other people believe as much in our city as we believe in our city," Lakin said.

The announcement that the half grocery/half goods membership warehouse is coming to Tulsa, is adding to the economic growth.

"More jobs for Tulsans which is beyond good," Lakin said.

Costco representative Steve McArthur says the wholesale store will hire 200 people. Part-timers get benefits. Many make $21 an hour.

"We want our employees to be happy and want to come to work," he said.

McArthur says Costco sells high-quality products and is the world's largest purveyor of fine wines. But in Oklahoma, Costco can't sell wine.

He says the company won't pressure lawmakers to change those state laws.

"This development should add to Tulsa's tax base and continue our mission of bringing jobs and opportunities to Tulsans," Mayor Dewey Bartlett said, calling it a "homerun" for the city.

Bartlett and other city leaders have worked with the Costco development team for over two years to secure the location, according to a news release from the City of Tulsa.

Construction should be complete by late next summer, Bartlett said.

Costco has few products in a lot of categories: beauty, home goods, appliances, hardware and more. You have to be a member to shop there.