Demolition On Old Regal Starts As Plans For New Costco Take Shape In Lake Forest

LAKE FOREST, CA — Demolition of a Regal Cinema building in Foothill Ranch started this week as the City of Lake Forest prepares to welcome a new Costco to town.

Orange County resident Brian Le was visiting Foothill Ranch Towne Center when he saw demolition tractors driving around the abandoned theater.

"I'm so excited for our new Costco, but the memories of going to the movies with my sons kind of leaves a tear in my eye," Christina Ramirez wrote on Facebook.

Bummer they couldn't use the building at all. Many memories at that theater!" KD Coronel commented on Facebook. "Life is full of ongoing changes."

The demolition paves the way for a new, 165,000 square-foot Costco Wholesale, the first in the city and the 14th in the county.

Once built, the new Costco will be slightly larger than the average Costco, with plans for a tire center, surface-level parking, seasonal outdoor sales, food court and more, according to Lake Forest city staff.

According to The Orange County Register, cities generally welcome Costco's being built within city limits due to the significant sales tax revenues its huge stores generate. Annual sales can exceed $250 million, the report said.

Lake Forest City officials did not immediately respond to comment regarding when the new Costco would open its doors to the public.