MARLBORO – Warehouse store shoppers will have to continue going to Old Bridge and Freehold after plans to construct a Costco in the township fell through last week.
A Costco official confirmed that the deal had been terminated by the land owner.
The land owner, Seasons Realty, of Hightstown, could not be reached for comment.
Costco, which requires a membership to shop at, had received unanimous approval from the Planning Board on May 2 for its plan to demolish the Regal Cinemas and build a 149,067-square-foot warehouse store in a shopping plaza at the corner of Route 9 north and Texas Road.
The warehouse store would have had a pharmacy, optical and tire departments, and liquor available to its customers in addition to other merchandise. A Costco gas station, which would have been open to the general public, was included in the plan.
Mayor Robert Kleinberg acknow-ledged the deal had fallen through, but said the sale of a plenary liquor license will continue as planned in July.
The plans for the site remain approved and if another developer purchases the land and wants to built the exact same use, he would not have to appear before the board, said Dennis Collins, attorney for the Planning Board.
– Victoria Hurley-Schubert