The plot thickens at Costco in Hackensack

The food counter at the Costco Wholesale in Hackensack.

 
The Costco Wholesale in Hackensack may or may not be moving and expanding, depending on whom you ask.

Two employees at the Costco Wholesale in Hackensack said today there is no truth to rumors the warehouse store -- which opened in 1994 -- is moving out of the city.

A Teaneck woman who is a dedicated Costco shopper said she heard the store was moving to somewhere near Teterboro Airport.

But there was more: 

The Hackensack Costco would be replaced by a Wal-Mart, the purveyor of low-quality food and cheap merchandise.

Wal-Mart has long been rumored to be interested in opening a store on about 20 acres near Costco that are owned by North Jersey Media Group, publisher of The Record, which left the city in 2009.

The property along River Street has become an eyesore. 

The former headquarters of The Record in Hackensack.

After I spoke to employees at the Hackensack Costco by telephone, my wife went there to pick up fresh fish.

A supervisor told her any move would be a year away, but nothing has been finalized.

Another employee at the Hackensack warehouse store said the employees want the store to move so it can expand and offer more to customers.

I called Costco corporate headquarters in Washington state.

Are there plans to move the store in a year, I asked.

"Not that I'm aware of," the headquarters employee said.

But if the store were to move, Costco would likely add a gasoline station and a wine department, for example, she said.  

I live about 2 miles from the Hackensack store, where we shop at least twice a week for fresh, wild-caught fish, organic salad mix and so much more.

I'd be happy to drive another couple of miles to Teterboro, if the new store offered gasoline, wine and a greater selection of food.