Costco to Build Store in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Costco Wholesale Corp. will build its first Louisiana store in New Orleans.

The Times-Picayune reports (http://bit.ly/JRh3Mb) the big-box warehouse store will be in the Carrollton area off the city just off Interstate 10.

Costco intends to invest more than $40 million in a membership-only facility on the site of the former Carrollton Shopping Center across from Xavier University.

Although the 148,000-square-foot project still needs design approval from the City Planning Commission and the City Council, officials in Mayor Mitch Landrieu's administration said Wednesday that they are hopeful that those steps will be formalities as all parties work toward a mid-2013 opening.