THUNDER BAY — The idea of a Costco going up in Thunder Bay has been talked about for many years.
Asked for his thoughts on the American-based wholesale club building its big box store along Golf Links Road and Central Avenue, Mayor Ken Boshcoff told Newswatch Tuesday evening that “when Costco wants to come somewhere, they will.”
“I’m not surprised. They’ve been looking at Thunder Bay as a target area, and we welcome all new business,” Boshcoff continued. “I think that it will actually help many of the local businesses who will also prosper from the influx of people, perhaps coming from out of town and even across the border.”
Forum Properties’ Ontario division president, Toby Singlehurst, confirmed to Newswatch earlier in the day that his company sold the land to the retail giant in December 2025.
“I will also be supportive and happy for the community because people have been looking forward to something like this for a long time,” Coun. Shelby Ch’ng said.
Forum Properties has been working towards the development since 2019, but the possibility of Costco coming to Thunder Bay has been discussed and rumoured for a much longer period of time.
Council approved zoning changes for a “large retail warehouse and gas bar” last April. At the time, Singlehurst could not confirm nor deny it was for a Costco but the specifics of the zoning request fuelled speculation. A schematic diagram of the planned retail warehouse matched other Costco locations.
Forum Properties purchased the land, getting all necessary approvals before selling the Innova Park property to Costco.
