The residents of Franklin, Wisconsin, still talk about how much they miss their long-lost drive-in theater, but there's tons of enthusiasm for the new Costco warehouse store that is taking its place. In a major milestone for the store's legions of fans, this will be the first Costco outlet in Wisconsin's Milwaukee County. In addition to the warehouse store, Costco is building a 12-pump gas station and 868 parking spaces. The new project was approved last fall and broke ground this week, with the location scheduled to open in November.

'I want to thank the Costco team for choosing our community to build its first store in Milwaukee County,' said Franklin Mayor John Nelson. Nelson said he has high hopes the new development could help attract 'other large tenants' to the area, noting that 'we all worked together seamlessly to get it done.' Wisconsin is no stranger to Costco: The retailer has stores in Grafton, Menomonee Falls, Pewaukee, New Berlin and Pleasant Prairie, with an Oconomowoc location also in the works. Some locals expressed reservations about the development: 'Everyone is excited about Costco, but that green space won't ever be green again,' wrote one Reddit user.

'That not only is bad for local air quality, it means the water management, which Milwaukee has been struggling with, gets that much worse, it will be hotter around that area, and it is simply going to be ugly now,' they wrote. Insurance company Northwestern Mutual has an office complex near the new Costco store, and the 2,000 employees currently working there will move to a new facility in downtown Milwaukee in 2027. A Reddit user commented that Northwestern 'spent a lot of money' to make Franklin a hub for its employees before shifting its focus to Milwaukee. 'It’ll be interesting to see what else comes of that area as they change their strategy,' added the Redditor.

Other locals shared their memories of the 41 Twin Outdoor Theatre, the drive-in that shuttered in the early 2000s to make way for the Northwestern Mutual Franklin campus. 'I went there a lot! As a teen we would all pile in someone’s truck and sneak in for cheap. I remember seeing the Blair Witch Project there and being terrified! Last movie I recall watching there was Jurassic Park 3,' wrote one Reddit user. For Costco members, however, the new warehouse is a welcome addition to the community. Memberships currently start at around $65 a year for a basic plan, or $130 for the Executive tier, which offers additional perks like 2 percent cashback on eligible purchases. For most shoppers, a Costco membership is all about bulk groceries, giant packs of paper towels and the occasional $1.50 hot dog.

Beyond checkout, Costco has rolled out a series of digital upgrades, including app improvements and virtual 'waiting rooms' for high-demand items such as Pokémon cards, designed to prevent bots from overwhelming the site. The company is installing membership card scanners at store entrances to curb card sharing, a move that drew mixed reactions from customers. As part of that crackdown, Costco began requiring membership verification at certain outdoor food courts , limiting access to non-members who previously could purchase the retailer's $1.50 hot dog and soda combo . Some shoppers have also complained about constantly shifting aisles - though executives have long described the rotating layout as part of Costco's 'treasure hunt' strategy, designed to encourage discovery.