For more than two decades, the Costco Wholesale warehouse located at 241 Linwood Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri, has been a cornerstone of our community. It has served as a locus of high-quality groceries, clothing, household goods, and other staples for Kansas City for years.

Recently, rumors suggest this Costco may convert to a Business Center. Unlike traditional (retail) Costco stores, Business Centers seek to meet the needs of small businesses, with a focus on wholesale products not typically suited for everyday household consumers. This conversion appears that it would alter the types of inventory available on the shelves and would render this Costco far less useful for everyday family needs.

Kansas City residents love their Costco for its emphasis on community and variety. The potential conversion could result in losing access to a wide selection of household essentials, groceries, electronics, pharmacy, and clothing that this store currently provides. Many families, including mine, depend on this store for its affordable prices, fresh produce, and diverse offerings, something we fear will diminish under a Business Center model.

We call on Costco leadership, as well as local government stakeholders, to preserve the unique role this retail store plays in the midtown area. We urge them to listen to the voices of those who routinely visit the 241 Linwood Boulevard location and keep it as a retail Costco, continuing to provide the amenities and services that the community currently enjoys.

Please sign this petition to help us keep our Costco a hub of consumer satisfaction, carefully balancing the needs of families and individuals in Kansas City, Missouri.