No Rxs , clothes , food court ? Costco customers rail against plan for Midtown store

yahoo.com · Feb 15, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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Costco is known for offering customers nearly everything in bulk. In Kansas City, at its Midtown location, that now includes sadness.And anger. And concern by loyal customers over the recent news — although still unofficial and unconfirmed (Costco has said nothing) — that the company’s store at 241 Linwood Blvd., a staple for 25 years, is to be converted into a Costco Business Center.The Midtown Costco at 241 Linwood Blvd.(Eric Adler/The Kansas City Star)What that means is starting to be freely shared by Midtown staff and management who are telling customers, should they ask, that the plan, as far as they know it, is for the Linwood location to shut down close to the end of 2026 (perhaps in November) around the same time that new Costco stores are set to open in Lee’s Summit and Lawrence, Kansas.Goodbye pharmacy, eye center, clothes, furnitureWhen the Linwood location reopens, which employees said could take as long as three months, it will be a “business center.” As such — to serve restaurants, offices, convenience stores and individual customers — it will carry a larger amount of food and produce. But the store will no longer include a pharmacy or eye care center.Clothing would likely not be sold a the Midtown Costco, 241 Linwood Blvd., should the store be turned into a Costco Business Center.(Eric Adler/The Kansas City Star)It will no longer sell electronics, books, lawn care items, plants, toys, furniture or clothing. The nearest Costco stores to do so for Midtown customers will be 15 or more miles away in Lenexa, Independence or in the Northland.The Star reached out to Costco’s corporate communications this week, but has yet to receive a response. On Jan. 15, rumors of Costco’s possible revamp prompted the Kansas City Council to approve a resolution directing the city manager and the city’s economic development agencies to initiate talks with the company, with the aim of keeping the store in its current form.1,000 sign petition to save retail CostcoThe Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City has reportedly attempted to begin those discussions. As of Friday, slightly more than 1,000 signatures have been gathered on a change.org petition urging Costco, “to listen to the voices of those who routinely visit the 241 Linwood Boulevard location and keep it as a retail Costco.”Clothing would likely not be sold a the Midtown Costco, 241 Linwood Blvd., should the store be turned into a Costco Business Center.(Eric Adler/The Kansas City Star)“The potential conversion could result in losing access to a wide selection of household essentials,” the petition reads.‘A great devastation’The comments on the petition were echoed by customers at the store on Friday.“The Midtown Costco is a multicultural hub of the city, and one of the only remaining grocery stores in our area,” one petition signer wrote. “Converting this location to serve other purposes would hurt an already vulnerable population and create a food desert in the center of our city. In a given week, hundreds — if not thousands — of families are able to share affordable meals in its food court.”Wrote another: “Costco is a primary, integral part of my health care, food supply, auto support and drugstore items. It is irreplaceable. It has transformed the access in the midtown area. All the burbs have shopping options that the midtown area does not. Pick another area that won’t be so greatly impacted.”Teisha Johnson-Clark, who opposes the change, was in her car in the parking lot on Friday, with her father. She said she shops at Costco two or three times each week.Food choices would expand should the Midtown Costco in Kansas City become a Costco Business Center, but departments such as electronics would likely disappear.(Eric Adler/The Kansas City Star)“My dad, I’m taking care of my father,” she said. “His medicine is here. . .I mean, for them to take it to turn into a business center — it’s taking away from the community. There’s no real grocery stores really in this area. It’s diverse here. Everyone gets along. It’s community. So to take that away from this area, it would be a great devastation, the impact of that.”Catherine Lunt called changing the Costco “a disservice to the community around here. A lot of people rely on this pharmacy. Discounted pharmaceuticals for people is essential.”Andrea Farquharson, who leaves near the Country Club Plaza, understood that the business center would have little effect on the food sold at the store.“I still think it should be left alone,” she said. “A lot of people come here. A lot of people love the food court. I personally know friends who swear by the pharmacy.”Scott Balcomb spoke just after he placed his groceries in the car on FridayFood choices would expand should the Midtown Costco in Kansas City become a Costco Business Center, but departments such as electronics would likely disappear.(Eric Adler/The Kansas City Star)“I buy half my clothes here,” Balcomb said. “I did buy these glasses here. I’m not in the pharmacy, but I live over in Fairway. I could go out to the one in Overland Park, but I just prefer this one . . .“I don’t see why they need to change it.”