American membership warehouse club chain Costco will open an outlet in Iceland in November this year according to local news site mbl.is. As we have previously reported Costco has bought a 20,000 sq meter (21,5278 sq ft) retail space in Garðabær town, a suburb of Reykjavík. Plans to open in 2015 were postponed but now all planning formalities have been met and work on changing the space and additional construction can go ahead.
The warehouse will include a coffee shop, a tire store, a self-service petrol station, an optometrist and an audiologist office. The building’s roof will be partially covered with vegetation, resembling a traditional, Icelandic turf roof.
According to the designers of the space, THG Architects, their aim is for the building to blend in with its natural surroundings, a moss clad lava field, keeping rocks and moss relatively intact.
While exploring the possibility of opening an outlet in Iceland Costco made inquiries about exceptions from Icelandic regulation regarding importing of fresh meat and selling pharmacy drugs and alcohol in their outlet. No such exceptions were granted.
Costco is the world's third largest retail chain, behind Tesco (2) and Walmart.
American membership warehouse club chain Costco will open an outlet in Iceland in November this year according to local news site mbl.is. As we have previously reported Costco has bought a 20,000 sq meter (21,5278 sq ft) retail space in Garðabær town, a suburb of Reykjavík. Plans to open in 2015 were postponed but now all planning formalities have been met and work on changing the space and additional construction can go ahead.
The warehouse will include a coffee shop, a tire store, a self-service petrol station, an optometrist and an audiologist office. The building’s roof will be partially covered with vegetation, resembling a traditional, Icelandic turf roof.
According to the designers of the space, THG Architects, their aim is for the building to blend in with its natural surroundings, a moss clad lava field, keeping rocks and moss relatively intact.
While exploring the possibility of opening an outlet in Iceland Costco made inquiries about exceptions from Icelandic regulation regarding importing of fresh meat and selling pharmacy drugs and alcohol in their outlet. No such exceptions were granted.
Costco is the world's third largest retail chain, behind Tesco (2) and Walmart.
