BEND, OR -- Anticipation is building for the opening of Bend’s new Costco store on the north end of town later this year, and attention now turns to the future of the current Costco at The Forum Shopping Center. 

Pat Kesgard, with Compass Commercial Real Estate, says Costco owns its stores, "So, when you think about The Forum, the current location, they own the building, the land and that large parking lot." He believes they'll sell, "In talking to the broker in Chicago, I just said, ‘Can you give us an update? You’re supposed to have the new store open late summer or early fall.’ And he responded back, they have had significant interest in that building." But a sale isn't imminent, "He said they’re really not focusing on it at this point. They will in another three months. So, by the time they get a tenant in tow, they get the plans drawn up, submit to the city, city’s going to take at least six months going through that process, probably more than that." That development could take another year, "Odds are, it will probably be cut up into two, three or four different tenancies. But, it’s not going to be a problem leasing that out, is what he indicated to me."

Kesgard tells KBND News, "I think it’ll be an investor group. I know the developer of the new Costco. He told me he and two other companies are standing in line to try and buy that property. So, a lot of interest."