They’re Coming!

Trader Joe’s (true), Costco (apparently not),and Buc-ee’s (nope).

It turns out that the No. 1 source of “news” about the next big retailer coming to Columbia is none other than “A clerk at Aldi.”

In our search for definitive sources for information about Costco, Buc-ee’s, and, more recently, Trader Joe’s coming to Columbia, our crowdsourcing has revealed that common source.

“A clerk at Aldi told me …” (Note: It is “Aldi,” not “Aldi’s,” but let’s not get sidetracked by accurate spelling or actual facts. Oh, and also, the Trader Joe’s news is true. TJ’s is coming to COMO.) But that big area that was cleared on the east side of Fairview Road, across from Target? “A clerk at Aldi” told more than a few people that the land was being prepared for Costco. Others have said — no doubt repeating the ubiquitous Aldi clerk — that the big clearing is preparation for Trader Joe’s.

The truth is — and this comes straight from the verbiage on the building permit issued by the city of Columbia Building and Site Development office — that spot next to Target will soon be a massive collection of storage units.

But what’s that you’ve heard about Buc-ee’s? If Springfield has a Buc-ee’s travel center, it seems to make sense that Columbia will get a Buc-ee’s. Our crowdsourcing has revealed that Buc-ee’s is coming to the Midway area, or to a site off Route ZZ east of Columbia. However … spokespeople for both Costco and Buc-ee’s say that Columbia is not in store for one of those stores, at least not for the foreseeable future. (No matter what “a clerk at Aldi” has told you.)

Quick note: It’s uncanny how many people haven’t even heard of Buc-ee’s. Seriously? You’ve really never had a Buc-ee’s Beaver nugget or pulled pork sandwich?

In early November, we learned from multiple local news sources that a Trader Joe’s store is coming to Columbia, presumably among The Shoppes at Stadium, and likely in the former Macy’s store. Other than confirmation that the store is coming, the where and when are just speculation. (This news came not long after we learned that Home Goods is taking over the space formerly occupied by Bed, Bath & Beyond.)

But don’t let that stop us all from jumping to conclusions.

According to our crowdsourcing, past and present retail and industry prognostications have included …

• Southwest Airlines coming to Columbia Regional Airport. (Fact check: Tall tale.)
• Red Robin had its sharp eyes on Columbia for a restaurnt, and that was publicly confirmed back around 2008. But, according to our tested source, “The recession put that expansion on hold.”
• A second Dillard’s, to be housed in the vacant Columbia Mall anchor building that used to be Sears, was announced in 2019, along with a Tru by Hilton hotel at the southwest corner of I-70 and Stadium. The planning ran into snags with planning and zoning and the so-called “COVID economy.”
• Just mention Trader Joe’s and a plethora of other retailers coming here “for sure” soon pops up on social channels: Sprouts, Whole Foods, and Costco.
• Remember the Hyperloop that was going to zig and zag between St. Louis and Kansas City? It seems the roughly $10 billion price tag kept that dream from becoming reality.
• At one time, Whole Foods was rumored to be coming to the Grindstone area. Another “report” had Whole Foods locating somewhere off Scott Boulevard. And then it happened. Whole Foods did build a store … in Columbia, Maryland.
• Others on the list of “we heard they’re coming” includes Krispy Kreme Donuts, Costco (by multiple sources), Dierbergs, Whiskey Wild (there is truth to that, by the way), a “super” Target in south Columbia (likely the Discovery Ridge area), and some sort of wine emporium in the former Women’s and Children’s/Columbia Regional Hospital.

Be sure to pass along your “I heard it was coming” reports to [email protected]. If you want your report to go to the top of the list, be sure to add, “A clerk at Aldi told me.”