Costco wants to move the gas station at its Albuquerque warehouse across the street and build the city's first Costco car wash alongside it, according to plans now working through city review. The project would also free up the current fuel site for dozens of new parking spaces once the old station comes down.
The retailer plans to relocate its fuel station from the warehouse site at 1420 North Renaissance NE to four acres of vacant land at 1301 North Renaissance NE, according to the Albuquerque Journal. The new fuel facility would span 14,800 square feet with 20 multiproduct dispensers and three underground tanks, each capable of holding 40,000 gallons. City planning documents cited by the paper describe the goal as increasing the number of fueling positions to cut down on wait times.
Right next to the relocated pumps, Costco plans to build a 3,777-square-foot car wash with two drive-through lanes and 38 parking stalls — the retailer's first in New Mexico. The report notes Costco currently operates car washes only at a limited number of warehouses in Arizona, California, Idaho, Tennessee and Washington, with listed locations including Poway, San Juan Capistrano, Turlock and Victorville in California and Murfreesboro, Tennessee, according to Costco's own service listings.
What Happens to the Old Fuel Site
Once the new station is up and running, Costco intends to decommission and demolish the existing fuel facility, clearing the way for 134 new parking spaces on the warehouse parcel. The project also calls for paving, directional pavement markings, landscaping and lighting, and the new structures are designed to match the architectural style of the current fuel facility, per the same account. City planning documents reviewed by the paper state the redevelopment is not expected to generate a significant number of new trips and is designed to minimize impacts on existing landscaping.
Permits Still Pending as Timeline Stays Unclear
The city approved a sketch plan application for the project in July, but as of this week had not yet issued building permits, the outlet reports. Costco submitted a $10 million commercial alteration permit application on Oct. 9, but the application needed to be resubmitted because the planning department requested more information, according to planning department spokesperson Tim Walsh. A Costco spokesperson declined to comment on the project or its construction timeline, telling the paper that company policy is not to discuss renovations or redevelopments until the company is ready to share details.
Fuel Sales Are a Growing Piece of Costco's Business
The Albuquerque project comes as Costco leans harder into its fuel business nationwide. Speaking on a fourth-quarter earnings call, Costco CEO Ron Vachris said the share of U.S. member households buying gas reached an all-time high during fiscal 2026, and that the company estimates it saved members more than $3.2 billion compared with average pump prices in the markets where it operates. Vachris also said Costco expanded 26 other existing gas stations at its highest-volume U.S. locations during the fiscal year.
That growth shows up in the company's broader financial results, too. Costco management told analysts the fiscal year included significant volume increases in ancillary businesses such as pharmacy, gas and travel, according to a transcript published by The Motley Fool. The company reported fourth-quarter comparable sales growth of 9.4% overall, or 6.7% once gas-price inflation and foreign exchange were factored out.
For now, Albuquerque shoppers will have to wait for more concrete signs of progress. With permits still pending and Costco staying quiet on timing, the stretch of North Renaissance NE near the warehouse remains, for the moment, unchanged.
