Costco Is Finally Coming to Rhode Island: First Store Planned for Smithfield

The proposed warehouse would open in 2028, bringing more than 200 jobs—but local approvals still lie ahead.

Entering Pawtucket | October 23, 2026

Rhode Island’s long wait for Costco could finally be coming to an end.

The warehouse retailer plans to open its first Ocean State location in Smithfield, near the intersection of Routes 7 and 116. Smithfield Town Council President John Tassoni Jr. confirmed the plans Thursday, with an anticipated opening in 2028 and more than 200 jobs expected, according to Providence Business News.

For Pawtucket residents who have been crossing the Massachusetts border for a Costco run, the announcement raises the prospect of an in-state option for stocking the pantry, filling the freezer and testing just how much can fit in the trunk.

The proposed location is the former Smithfield Peat property on Route 116, roughly a mile from an Interstate 295 exit. Helena Foulkes, a Costco board member and Democratic candidate for governor, also confirmed the planned Rhode Island location to local media, Providence Business First reported.

There is still a process ahead before shoppers can walk through the doors. The project remains subject to formal approvals, and 2028 is a proposed opening year—not a scheduled grand opening, according to News Radio 920.

That distinction matters after years of anticipation surrounding a Rhode Island Costco. The latest news identifies a community, a proposed site and an opening target, but shoppers will still have to wait for the development process to move forward.

For Pawtucket, the store would be a regional shopping destination rather than a new business within city limits. Still, a first Rhode Island location would give local Costco fans something they have long wanted: the possibility of making their next bulk-shopping trip without leaving the state.

The shopping lists can start now. The opening-day countdown will have to wait.