Plans are underway for a new Costco store to potentially replace the long-vacant former Sears location at Greenbrier Mall in Chesapeake, Virginia. The property owner, 1401 Greenbrier Parkway LLC, is currently seeking a conditional use permit to establish not only the warehouse store but also a gas station on-site. If approved, the store is projected to hire approximately 200 employees and attract around 7,000 customers daily, with an estimated 10% utilizing the gas station.
According to Jimmy McNamara, the director of the city’s planning department, the site plan indicates a new building separate from the existing mall structure. He noted, “The application is under review and revisions are being made by the applicant.” At this stage, there are no scheduled meetings with the Planning Commission or City Council regarding this matter, although both bodies will need to review the gas station proposal.
The site is permitted for a warehouse store under current zoning laws, which streamlines the process for Costco’s construction. This follows a significant investment by Mike Sifen, president of Sifen Inc., who purchased most of the mall property at auction for $22.35 million nearly a year ago. The former Sears property was acquired for $6.8 million in 2022, as indicated by city records.
The Sears store, a key anchor when Greenbrier Mall opened in 1981, closed its doors in 2018, contributing to the mall’s decline. Mayor Rick West expressed optimism regarding the potential redevelopment, stating, “I’m very excited about it. Seeing the mall’s decline from its heyday has been heartbreaking.” He emphasized that while the new Costco may not be the ideal redevelopment envisioned, it could stimulate further improvements in the area.
The Greenbrier Mall site is included in a recently adopted areawide redevelopment plan, which aims to rejuvenate the region. West mentioned that the public will have the opportunity to provide feedback when the conditional use permit is presented to the City Council.
Currently, Costco operates two stores in the Hampton Roads area, one located in Norfolk and the other in Newport News. The latter is undergoing transformation, with the construction of a new 152,000-square-foot warehouse center expected to open by 2027. In response to inquiries about the new Chesapeake location, Costco Wholesale stated in an automated reply that it cannot comment on new store openings unless they are imminent.
As the proposal moves forward, community members are keenly watching how the addition of Costco will impact the local economy and the future of Greenbrier Mall.
