A project years in the making became a reality on August 26 as Costco Wholesale officially opened its doors in Celina, marking an important milestone in the community's continued economic development.
Located at 3445 S. Preston Road, near the intersection of Preston Road and Ownsby Parkway, Costco is one of the first major big-box retail projects the City of Celina and Celina Economic Development Corporation worked to help bring to the community as Celina prepared for its next phase of growth.
While residents are now able to walk through the doors and shop close to home, the work behind the project began years before opening day.
Years of Planning and Partnership
The Costco project dates back to 2022, when the City of Celina entered into an agreement with Costco Wholesale Corporation that included commitments associated with infrastructure improvements in the area. A critical component was the construction and expansion of Ownsby Parkway, providing infrastructure needed to support Costco and future commercial development along the Preston Road corridor.
The project required collaboration among the City of Celina, Celina EDC, Costco, property owners, developers and other partners to prepare the area for large-scale commercial development.
As the project progressed, the Celina EDC committed funding toward public infrastructure improvements associated with the Costco development. Those investments were intended not only to support one retailer, but also to help create an environment where additional commercial development could follow.
That strategy can already be seen along Preston Road.
An Anchor for a Growing Commercial Corridor
Costco serves as a major retail anchor near The Crossing at Moore Farm, a large-scale mixed-use development being marketed and leased by SHOP Companies. The surrounding Preston Road and Ownsby Parkway area has quickly become one of Celina's most active commercial corridors.
The Costco warehouse encompasses approximately 158,000 square feet, according to state project filings, and includes the warehouse along with a Costco gas station.
Its arrival has been accompanied by significant additional investment. Within days of Costco's opening, The Home Depot and Academy Sports + Outdoors also opened new Celina stores along Preston Road, giving residents new opportunities to shop within their own community.
Additional retail, restaurants and services are expected to continue filling in around these major anchors.
More Than a New Store
For the Celina EDC, attracting retailers such as Costco is about much more than convenience.
As Celina's population has grown, residents have historically traveled to surrounding communities for many of their shopping needs. Bringing major retailers to Celina helps capture more of those purchases locally, strengthen the City's sales tax base and create new employment opportunities.
Those sales tax dollars ultimately help support City services and provide additional resources that can be reinvested into Celina's economic development efforts, including programs supporting local and small businesses.
Large-scale retail also creates a regional draw. Celina is increasingly becoming a place where residents of neighboring communities come to shop, dine and spend time, bringing additional dollars into the local economy.
From Infrastructure to Opening Day
Costco's August 26 opening demonstrates how economic development often happens years before a ribbon is cut.
It starts with relationships, planning, infrastructure, agreements and a long-term vision for where commercial development should occur.
The City of Celina and Celina EDC's early work surrounding the Costco project helped establish the Preston Road and Ownsby Parkway area for the commercial investment now taking shape there.
Today, what began as conversations, agreements and infrastructure plans has become a major new retail destination serving Celina and the surrounding region.
And Costco's opening is only one piece of the story.
With Costco, The Home Depot, Academy Sports + Outdoors and additional projects arriving along Preston Road, the corridor is quickly demonstrating how strategic infrastructure investment and public-private partnerships can help transform population growth into sustainable economic growth.
Costco Wholesale – Celina
3445 S. Preston Road
Celina, TX 75009
Opened: August 26, 2026