Costco coming to Augusta? (Atlanta, Buckhead: hoa, apartments, hotels)

[starsweet]

I read several articles a few months ago saying Costco was coming to Augusta. Then I heard nothing. Is it still coming?

[johndoeboy]

Yeah its still coming to the river watch lifestyle center being built of I-20.

Village At Riverwatch 1 million sq. ft lifestyle center. Costco, Belk, Movie Tavern, Pizza Extreme, Starplex Cinema, specialty stores, large format retail, restaurants and two hotels, the center will fulfill the demand for unique shopping, dining and entertainment. Started already
The Village at Riverwatch | The MGHerring Group

[DisgustaTruth]

I thought this "lifestyle" center was billed as having upscale shopping new to Augusta.. I love Costco.. but its not exactly upscale.. and certainly not Belk.. and Belk has been in the Augusta areafor years. What happened to all of the upscale stores?

[Carolinaresident]

Where exactly off I-20 is this development located in Augusta. Sounds like a nice place to shop though.

[starsweet]

I noticed the site you linked to, which seems to be the official site for the whole project, does not mention Costco. Well since I asked this question, I decided to just email Costco and ask. They said they have no plans for one in Augusta. Strange.

I'm trying to get a job there, that's why I'm so interested. Now I'm really disappointed they are not coming. Chalk it up to another disappointment for Augusta.

[DisgustaTruth]

I think Costco is supposed to locate at the riverwatch development.. the company won't tell you if they are because they keep that information secret until it is officially announced.. it all has to do with competition.. they want to keep competitirs like Sams Club guessing on where they might locate next.

[jmarkey]

What's going on with this Riverwatch Development project? When I left in 1996, there was a sign up, but nothing had been done with the site.

I came back in 2007 and it looks exactly the same. Are they ever going to actually build something there?

[DisgustaTruth]

well that's the plan... apparantly a texas devt company MGHerring bought the property and is planning to build a lifestyle center... but construction was supposed to start months ago... the feeling is that the retail market in Augusta has become oversaturated.. especially after Augusta Mall renovated with an outdorr lifestyle center.. it's believed many of the stores that ended up at Augusta mall were planned initially for the Riverwatch center.. The general wisdom is that MGherring is retooling their concept to make it less retail heavy and instead focus more on apartments, small hotels, and restaurants, and office space. It will be interesting to see what ends up happening. But I can understand how people in Augusta can be cynical about it... because I remember in 1991 there were all of these plans to build a major shopping mall at the site.. and nothing happened. The local media hyped this lifestyle center up to be something analogous to Buckhead Atlanta type shopping... but it appears it will end up not being anything close to that. But anyne who knows Augusta will wonder what shopping centers will be abandoned next when this new one opens.. it seems like everytime a new shopping center opens in Augusta.. two more are abandoned.

[johndoeboy]

Originally Posted by jmarkey

What's going on with this Riverwatch Development project? When I left in 1996, there was a sign up, but nothing had been done with the site.

I came back in 2007 and it looks exactly the same. Are they ever going to actually build something there?

Whoa i think you are reffering to another development. Nobody even heard of the river watch deveopment until 2005, 2006. You are probably thinking about another development. Also there are workers at the site so maybe you mean. You didn't see the bulk of the building going up because there is construction happening on the site. In 1996 that area was nothing but trees and land.

[johndoeboy]

Originally Posted by DisgustaSucks

I thought this "lifestyle" center was billed as having upscale shopping new to Augusta.. I love Costco.. but its not exactly upscale.. and certainly not Belk.. and Belk has been in the Augusta areafor years. What happened to all of the upscale stores?

Costco and Belk are only two stores. There will be 2 other department stores and 100 speciality stores. Augusta doesn't have a movie tavern, or pizza extreme that is coming with this development. So there will be plenty of stores not in the augusta market currently.