It didn't have the usual fanfare of a store opening, but Costco at Boolaroo has now welcomed its first shoppers.
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The Lake Macquarie warehouse opened quietly on Tuesday after being delayed by a month due to a COVID-19 positive staff member from Sydney visiting the site in August.
Those close contacts are now out of isolation and the business has opened as an essential service, joining 12 other Australian locations that have operated during the pandemic.
The local store was taking precautions as the public rolled in for the first time, with marshals stopping shoppers both at the entrance to the car park and the store itself checking for memberships, which are a requirement of buying from the store.
Jane Ekholm was one of the local Lake Macquarie shoppers who got first look at the new store on Tuesday.
She had joined as a member in Melbourne at the beginning of the year and has been to four Costco stores, but said this one was the largest she had visited.
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"I think this is really great for Newcastle," Ms Ekholm said. "I thought this was something that we really needed here.
"I was hoping for Ikea, but hopefully that's down the track."
Ms Ekholm said she was conscious of COVID safety in deciding to head along on open day, but knowing there was a positive case last month actually gave her some comfort.
"With the trouble they had, I thought they would have every measure in place," she said. "And I didn't break any rules by going.
"The staff were really friendly and the store was immaculate."
She said she was asked to show her Service NSW check-in and proof of membership, but not asked for her address.
And it seemed the quiet opening was doing the trick.
"There were so many less people than I was expecting," she said.
"Compared to other Costcos it was deserted."
Cohen Finlay was also joyed to see the franchise open in Newcastle after joining in Sydney last year.
He runs a business and used to make the trip to the state capital to stock up on commercial goods.
"It was actually worth making the drive to Sydney for," he said.
He said he was worried about the effect the store would have on small businesses, but that he thought some could also take advantage like he does.
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