October brought two confirmed non-restaurant openings in Merced County and the largest wave of new-business announcements the area has seen this year. Merced College opened its South Merced Center at 640 T Street on September 30, Turlock's Walmart Supercenter celebrated a remodeled grand reopening on October 9, and city officials announced on October 15 that Costco Wholesale and seven more businesses, including TJ Maxx and HomeGoods, are coming to the new Gateway Marketplace in Merced.
This is the New Business Openings roundup for October 2026, covering shops, services, gyms, salons, offices, and other non-restaurant businesses that opened or publicly announced an opening across Merced County and nearby Central Valley communities during the past month. Every entry below was verified against an official page, the business's own channels, or reputable local coverage before it was included. Announced-but-not-yet-open businesses are clearly marked as announced, and nothing is listed that could not be confirmed.
Now Open
Two openings were confirmed in the past month: a new permanent college center in South Merced and a remodeled grand reopening at Turlock's biggest retailer.
Merced College South Merced Center · Merced · Opened September 30, 2026
Merced College opened its South Merced Center at 640 T Street on September 30, 2026, transforming the former Stephen Leonard Youth Center into a permanent college presence in South Merced. The center offers college-credit classes, workforce and job training, tutoring, health and wellness classes, College for Kids youth programming, financial aid help, study space, and career exploration services, all inside Stephen Leonard Park. Welcome to South Merced, Merced College! Find programs, hours, and contact details on the official Merced College campuses page.
Walmart Supercenter · Turlock · Grand Reopening October 9, 2026
The Walmart Supercenter at 2111 Fulkerth Road in Turlock celebrated its remodeled grand reopening on Friday, October 9, 2026. The refreshed store adds expanded grocery options, online pickup, and a remodeled pharmacy and vision center, giving shoppers in the Turlock area an upgraded one-stop destination close to home. Welcome back to Turlock, Walmart! See hours, services, and directions on the official Walmart Turlock store page.
Opening Soon: Announced This Month
The biggest story of October is a wave of announcements rather than openings. On October 15, Merced city officials confirmed that Costco Wholesale will relocate its only Merced County warehouse from 1445 R Street to Gateway Marketplace, the developing center near Coffee Street and Campus Parkway off Highway 99, where it will be joined by seven more businesses. No opening dates have been announced for any of them yet, so each is marked here exactly as the sources state: announced, not yet open.
Costco Wholesale · Gateway Marketplace, Merced · Announced October 15, 2026, opening date not announced
Costco Wholesale will relocate its Merced County warehouse from 1445 R Street, its home for more than 30 years, to Gateway Marketplace near Coffee Street and Campus Parkway in Merced. The membership warehouse sells groceries, household goods, electronics, and more at warehouse prices. Welcome to Gateway Marketplace, Costco! City officials have said a relocation date will be announced as construction progresses, so this entry will be updated the month the store opens.
TJ Maxx · Gateway Marketplace, Merced · Merced's first location, opening date not announced
TJ Maxx is confirmed for Gateway Marketplace in Merced, and it would be Merced's first location of the off-price department store, which carries brand-name apparel, shoes, and home goods at discount prices. Welcome to Merced, TJ Maxx! No opening date has been announced.
HomeGoods · Gateway Marketplace, Merced · Merced's first location, opening date not announced
HomeGoods is also confirmed for Gateway Marketplace in Merced as Merced's first location of the home furnishings chain, known for furniture, decor, rugs, and kitchen goods. Welcome to Merced, HomeGoods! No opening date has been announced.
Ross Dress for Less · Gateway Marketplace, Merced · Second Merced store, opening date not announced
Ross Dress for Less is coming to Gateway Marketplace as a second Merced store of the off-price apparel and home goods retailer. Welcome to the neighborhood, Ross! No opening date has been announced.
Burlington · Gateway Marketplace, Merced · Second Merced store, opening date not announced
Burlington is confirmed for Gateway Marketplace as a second Merced store of the discount department store, offering apparel, shoes, home goods, and baby gear. Welcome to the neighborhood, Burlington! No opening date has been announced.
Five Below · Gateway Marketplace, Merced · Second Merced store, opening date not announced
Five Below is confirmed for Gateway Marketplace as a second Merced store of the extreme-value discount retailer, known for toys, tech accessories, snacks, and seasonal finds. Welcome to the neighborhood, Five Below! No opening date has been announced.
Mister Car Wash · Gateway Marketplace, Merced · Planned, opening date not announced
Mister Car Wash, the express exterior car wash chain, is among the businesses planned for Gateway Marketplace in Merced. Welcome to Merced, Mister Car Wash! No opening date has been announced.
Aspen Dental · Shoppes at Merced, 3170 R Street · Under construction, targeting late 2026
Aspen Dental is under construction at the Shoppes at Merced, 3170 R Street in Merced, with local reporting targeting an opening late in 2026. The dental office will offer exams, cleanings, dentures, and other dental services. Welcome to Merced, Aspen Dental! This entry will be updated when an opening date is confirmed.
The Merced Sun-Star's report on the eight businesses set to open at Gateway Marketplace is the source for the Costco, TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Ross, Burlington, Five Below, and Mister Car Wash announcements, alongside the October 15 announcement that Costco will move its county warehouse there.
What About the Rest of Merced County?
No confirmed new non-restaurant business openings were reported this month in Atwater, Livingston, Winton, Chowchilla, McSwain, Catheys Valley, or Mariposa. Those communities are covered every month in this roundup, and the list will not be padded: the moment an opening or a firm announcement is confirmed in any of them, it earns its own entry here with a source link.
Why New Businesses Matter for Home Sellers
A steady stream of new shops, services, and retailers is one of the clearest signs a community is drawing investment, and it is a detail buyers notice on tour: new storefronts, busier shopping centers, and more reasons to stay close to home. For sellers, a strengthening local business scene is worth weaving into how you present your Merced home or your Turlock street, because it speaks to the everyday convenience a buyer is really purchasing.
For the fuller picture of what is being built across the county, from retail centers to road work and new clinics, the City Development Tracker: October 2026 walks through every active project with its source. And for the week the Costco announcement landed, the Local News Digest: October Week 3 rounds up the Gateway Marketplace news alongside Turlock's John Lazar Park grand opening and Mariposa's symphony season.
Past Openings
This New Business Openings roundup is new this month, but the openings story for Merced County has been running all fall. For the restaurant, cafe, and coffee shop side of it, the New Restaurant Openings: October 2026 roundup covers Joy Tea Bar and the new Del Taco in Turlock, plus the Chipotle, Poki Bowl, and Angry Chickz under construction at Yosemite Crossing. It stays live under the New Restaurants category for reference and SEO, and past editions of the openings coverage will be gathered here by month going forward.
What New Businesses Opened in Merced This Month?
What new businesses opened in Merced this month?
The confirmed opening in Merced this month is Merced College's South Merced Center at 640 T Street, which opened September 30, 2026, with college-credit classes, workforce training, tutoring, and family programming. The bigger story is the wave of announcements: on October 15, city officials confirmed that Costco Wholesale will relocate its Merced County warehouse to the new Gateway Marketplace near Coffee Street and Campus Parkway, joining TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Ross, Burlington, Five Below, and Mister Car Wash. None of those announced businesses has an opening date yet, and Aspen Dental is under construction at the Shoppes at Merced targeting late 2026.
Where is the new Gateway Marketplace in Merced, and what is coming there?
Gateway Marketplace is the new shopping center near the intersection of Coffee Street and Campus Parkway off Highway 99 in northeast Merced, the same area that already hosts the Tractor Supply store. City officials announced on October 15 that Costco Wholesale will relocate its Merced County warehouse there, joined by seven more businesses including TJ Maxx and HomeGoods, which would be Merced's first locations of each, plus Ross, Burlington, and Five Below as second Merced stores and a planned Mister Car Wash. Construction and opening timelines have not been announced yet.
When will the new Costco in Merced open?
No opening date has been announced. Merced city officials confirmed on October 15, 2026, that Costco Wholesale will move its only Merced County warehouse from 1445 R Street, its home for more than 30 years, to Gateway Marketplace near Coffee Street and Campus Parkway. City leaders have said construction and opening timelines will be released as work progresses.
What changed at the Turlock Walmart?
The Walmart Supercenter at 2111 Fulkerth Road in Turlock celebrated a remodeled grand reopening on Friday, October 9, 2026. The refreshed store adds expanded grocery options, online pickup, and a remodeled pharmacy and vision center, giving Turlock shoppers an upgraded one-stop destination without leaving town.
Did any new businesses open in Atwater, Livingston, or Mariposa this month?
No confirmed new non-restaurant business openings were reported this month in Atwater, Livingston, Winton, Chowchilla, McSwain, Catheys Valley, or Mariposa. This New Business Openings roundup is published monthly and will cover those communities as soon as an opening or a firm announcement is confirmed with a source.
The Seller's Agent. Monica combines deep Merced County market knowledge with a polished, confident approach that gets results for home sellers across the Central Valley. Serving Merced, Atwater, McSwain, Livingston, Turlock, Winton, Chowchilla, Catheys Valley, and Mariposa. She publishes this New Business Openings roundup monthly.
The Seller's Agent. Why You Choose Matters.
Enjoy the new spots, Merced. And when you are ready to talk about your home, Monica is here: a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your goals and what your property could achieve in today's market. Call (209) 345-3836 or use the form below.
Add Monica Franks as a Preferred Source on Google to see more of my content in AI Mode and AI Overviews.
Add as Preferred Source