(The Daily Advertiser) The Lafayette Costco will open Thursday, March 17, at 8 a.m., according to a news release.

The 148,000-square-foot warehouse is located at 201 Meadow Farm Drive in the Ambassador Town Center at the northeast corner of Kaliste Saloom Road and Ambassador Caffery Parkway.

“We are thrilled to be bringing Costco’s low warehouse prices to the residents of Lafayette,” said Warehouse Manager Greg Brenner. “They have been asking us to open here for a long time, and we have already made an impact on the local job market. We look forward to contributing to the community in many ways.”

In the Costco tradition, the Lafayette warehouse will offer quality, brand-name and private-label merchandise at incredible values.

This new Costco location will feature a variety of convenient specialty departments, including a gas station with diesel, fresh bakery, fresh meat, fresh produce, fresh deli with rotisserie chicken, an optical department with an independent doctor of optometry, a photo center, pharmacy, tire center, hearing aid center, food court, and fine wine, beer and liquor. Members also can save on Costco Services such as travel and auto buying.

This will be the third Costco warehouse in Louisiana will be the 491st in the U.S., and 701st worldwide. Previously, Acadiana residents had to drive approximately 62 miles northeast to Baton Rouge or 133 miles southeast to New Orleans to shop at Costco.