3 Minutes on a Park Bench with Costco's Cathy Wanklin

We emailed Patch partner Cathy Wanklin of Costco to talk about some notable products that will be sold at the new Lawrenceville Township location how Costco is giving back to the community.

Patch: Can you tell us a little about the new store?

Cathy Wanklin: The Lawrence Township location is just under 150K square feet and it has all the great departments our members have come to know and love us for. We have a gas station, fresh bakery, meat department, optical, photo, pharmacy, tire center, hearing aid departments and more. It is the 17th location in NJ and the 712th worldwide.

Patch: Why is Lawrenceville Township a good fit for a Costco?

Cathy Wanklin: Lawrence Township is located in a terrific area for us, giving the Mercer County members a centrally located warehouse, so they no longer need to commute to Mount Laurel or Bridgewater for their favorite Costco items.

Patch: How does the store give back to the community?

Cathy Wanklin: Every location has a budget to donate to community events and in addition, our employees donate to United Way, the month of May is for Childrens Miracle Network fundraising, and we will "adopt a school" and donate 600 backpacks full of supplies to students that qualify for free lunch.

Patch: What does a Costco membership entail?

Cathy Wanklin: The Goldstar membership entitles two adult members of the same household to shop here in Lawrence Township or at any of our 712 locations and Costco.com. They can also take advantage of our buying power along with the other 86 million cardholders. An upgrade to executive membership will also give the member a 2% rebate on most Costco purchases.

Patch: What are some of the notable product or brands featured in the Lawrenceville Township store?

Cathy Wanklin: The buyers did a great job bringing in the hottest new designers like Spyder jackets, Columbia outerwear, Under Armor, Uggs and Muck boots. There will also be Burberry, Louis Vuitton and Tory Burch handbags brought in for a special grand opening roadshow.

Patch: How can readers contact you or find out more about Costco?

Cathy Wanklin: Costco.com has a wealth of information. They could also "like" us on Facebook.

Patch: How does Costco standout from the competition?

Cathy Wanklin: Costco members renew because they appreciate the way we treat them as well as selling quality products at the lowest price possible. We are the original warehouse club and grow every year, mostly from members' word of mouth.

Patch: What would you tell a reader who has thought about shopping at Costco, but usually shops at his or her local small business retail stores?

Cathy Wanklin: Come and check us out. We have a very robust grand opening offer and like everything we sell, our membership has a fully refundable money back guarantee. Costco will never replace the beautiful downtown communities you find here, and we hope to contribute to the area in positive ways.