If you’ve driven past the corner of West Mineral Avenue and South Santa Fe Drive lately, you’ve probably seen the dust. For months, the skyline was dominated by the old Qwest Tower, a 130-foot relic of Littleton’s industrial past that basically sat as a ghost building. Then came June 2025. In a matter of seconds, the tower was toppled, clearing the way for the most anticipated retail development in the South Metro area: Mineral Place.
Honestly, the hype is real. People have been clamoring for a new Costco in Littleton for years. Why? Because if you’ve ever tried to park at the River Point or Park Meadows locations on a Saturday morning, you know the struggle. It’s a combat sport. The new 160,856-square-foot warehouse at 700 W. Mineral Avenue isn’t just another big-box store; it’s a release valve for a community that has outgrown its current infrastructure.
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The Mineral Place Timeline: When Can You Actually Shop?
The most common thing people get wrong is the opening date. While the tower is gone and the grading is well underway, you aren’t buying $5 rotisserie chickens just yet. Construction on the new Costco in Littleton is a massive undertaking involving more than just a warehouse. We’re talking about a 63-acre mixed-use hub.
Construction kicked into high gear following the demolition in mid-2025. Right now, the focus is on "horizontal infrastructure"—that’s developer-speak for pipes, power lines, and the roads that keep the site from becoming a muddy swamp. According to project filings from Republic Investment Group and Saunders Construction, the target for the grand opening is late 2026.
Expect a lot of orange cones between now and then. The city isn’t just plopping a store there; they are completely reworking the Santa Fe and Mineral intersection. It’s currently the most congested spot in the city, with delays sometimes hitting 20 minutes just to turn left. The solution? A quadrant roadway. It sounds fancy, but basically, it removes left turns at the main light and redirects them to a new loop. It’s supposed to be finished by 2027, but the Costco should be operational before the final road stripes are dry.
What’s actually going inside the new warehouse?
This isn’t a "Costco Lite." It’s a full-scale operation. Based on the site plans approved by the Littleton Planning Commission, the facility will include:
- A massive 32-pump gas station (essential for those Santa Fe commuters).
- A dedicated tire sales and installation center.
- The full suite of pharmacy, optical, and hearing aid services.
- A massive bakery and meat department.
- That iconic food court (yes, the hot dog combo is safe).
Why This Specific Location Matters
There was a lot of talk about the "soil conditions" that killed the Grand Junction Costco project back in 2024. Fortunately, the Mineral Avenue site doesn't have those same ghosts. What it did have was 800,000 square feet of outdated industrial buildings.
The site at 700 W. Mineral Ave used to be a tire manufacturing plant for Gates Rubber back in the 70s before becoming an office for Qwest and Lumen. By the time it was sold for $50 million, it was generating zero traffic and zero tax revenue. For the City of Littleton, replacing a vacant office park with a sales-tax powerhouse like Costco is a massive win for the budget.
But it’s not just about the money. This development, called Mineral Place, is going to be a "live-work-shop" ecosystem. Alongside the Costco, there’s a 370-unit luxury apartment complex called The Sullivan being built by Embrey. There’s also a second big-box anchor rumored to be a Home Depot, though that hasn't been officially 100% confirmed by the brand yet. Oh, and for the foodies? A Portillo’s is already in the plans.
Addressing the Traffic Elephant in the Room
Let’s be real: people are worried about the traffic. You’ve seen the comments on Reddit. People think Mineral Avenue is going to become a "complete quagmire."
The city is trying to get ahead of this. They’re adding two new traffic signals on West Mineral and a roundabout at Southpark Drive. They are also planting over 950 new trees to replace the old ones (mostly ash trees that were dying from emerald ash borer anyway). It’s a net gain of nearly 700 trees, which should help with the "concrete jungle" vibe.
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Actionable Steps for Littleton Residents
If you’re planning to make this your new home base for bulk shopping, here’s how to stay ready:
- Monitor the Santa Fe Quadrant Project: Construction is starting in late 2025. If you commute through that intersection, sign up for the city's "Cone Zone" email alerts. It’s going to be messy before it gets better.
- Wait on Membership Changes: If you’re currently a member at another location, keep it. Your membership is valid at any warehouse worldwide. If you’re waiting to join only for the new store, wait for the "New Location" sign-up deals that usually pop up 2-3 months before the 2026 opening.
- Check Local Job Postings: Costco is known for being a top-tier employer. Hiring for a new warehouse typically starts 4-6 months before opening. Keep an eye on the Costco careers portal starting in mid-2026.
- Use the SW Denver Location for Now: Until the doors open on Mineral, the 7900 W. Quincy Ave (SW Denver/Littleton) location remains your closest bet. Just maybe avoid it at 11:00 AM on a Sunday.
The transition from a 50-year-old tower to a modern retail hub is a huge shift for Littleton. It represents the end of the town's industrial era and the beginning of a much denser, more commercial future. Whether you’re here for the cheap gas or the Portillo’s chocolate cake shakes, change is officially on the horizon.