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An overflow crowd showed up for the first day of shopping at the Surprise Costco on the southwest corner of Waddell Road and Sarival Avenue.
Mayor Skip Hall and store general manager Jennifer Welker cut the ribbon at the entrance at 7:30 a.m., right before the store allowed customers in a half-hour earlier than planned.
That's partly because the line of people waiting had stretched into the morning sun and had wrapped all the way around the building.
"This is long-awaited and greatly anticipated," a masked, but clearly smiling Mr. Hall said as shoppers poured into the entrance.
The first shopper, Julie Garcia of Goodyear, arrived at 2:30 a.m., and dozens had formed a line by time the sun came up.
The city attempted to lure Costco in for years before getting its big catch this year.
Former NAU Lumberjack who loves going to concerts (or I did), watching sports (or I did) and hanging out with friends (oh, never mind). I also enjoy backgammon, surfing and men who are not afraid to cry.