Latest news with #MartinCountyHighSchool
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The wait is over: Costco opens early in Stuart, with about 1,000 in line
This story has been updated to add new information, photos and video. STUART — The waiting game came to an end at 7:30 a.m. April 25 as about 1,000 people, some who had been in line since before dawn, filed into the new Costco store following more than a decade of delay. People were in line as early 5:15 a.m. A massive crowd stood waiting at the front of the store before the doors opened, but the line snaked around past the tire center and even further, into the parking lot, before opening. Christopher Milu, first customer in the new Costco Wholesale in Stuart at 3173 S. Kanner Highway, exits the store after purchasing some of his favorite items on April 25, 2025. The store opened at 7:30 a.m. to a crowd lined up outside. Milu was first in line with a shopping cart. Costco's first customer Stuart resident Christopher Milu was the first shopper to set foot inside. The first to line up, Milu spent his morning catching up on LinkedIn while he waited, he said. 'I'm an early guy,' Milu said. 'My wife thinks I am crazy.' Milu came out with what he described as "man stuff": beef jerky, ribs and steak. His wife will come back for toiletries, fruits and vegetables, he said. "We've been waiting," he said. "Now we're happy it's here." Costco's first purchase Port St. Lucie resident Michelle Lynch was the first person out of the store. She was on her way to see her husband at work. "I was here for the pizza," she said as she carried a slice of cheese pizza. Lynch was in line at 5:58 a.m. Shopping cart: Golf clubs, eggs and pasta Maria Coradini, a self-described snowbird from New Jersey living in Port St. Lucie, was pushing a shopping cart with two sets of golf clubs, a carton of two dozen eggs and boxes of pasta. 'Before the opening here, I used to go to the (Costco store) in Melbourne,' she said. 'And it is quite far from Port St. Lucie.' Costco customers line up before the 7:30 a.m. April 25, 2025, opening of the new store in Stuart at 3173 S. Kanner Highway, just south of Martin County High School. Costco free samples ranked David Deliz, of Palm City, ranked his top three favorite free samples on the store's opening day. 'The ribeye is excellent, the chicken sausage is pretty good and this…' Deliz said, before taking a bite of a chicken alfredo with penne pasta sample, 'is delicious.' He's been to Costco Wholesale stores at least 500 times, he said. Shoppers stop for free samples of Tonnino Yellowfin Tuna on crackers while shopping in the new Costco Warehouse, 3173 S. Kanner Hwy., Stuart, on April 25, 2025. 'I've been coming to Costco forever. I wanted this thing to be opened in '16' in Palm City, he said. 'They should have gone to Port St. Lucie, but that's OK.' He wanted to get some bourbon, but the line to the liquor store was too long, he said. Instead, he bought golf clubs and shrimp. His son called him as he was being interviewed. 'Do you want anything from Costco?' he asked on the phone. 'It's a zoo right now.' Homeless population: Treasure Coast releases number of homeless population from annual point-in-time count Condo crisis: Condo inspection reports reveal substantial structural deterioration across Treasure Coast Janet Rogers enjoys Costco's $1.50 hot-dog-and-soda combo in the new Costco that opened 8 a.m. April 25, 2025, in Stuart, 3173 S. Kanner Hwy. $1.50 hot dog-and-soda combo Janet Rogers sat down to enjoy a hot dog around 9 a.m. It was a snack break after a crowded, chaotic shopping experience at Costco, Rogers said. 'It was an outing. It was an experience,' she said. She applied mustard and relish to the hot dog that she got at the food court. 'It's a great hot dog,' she said. 'Did you know Costco sells more hot dogs than all the baseball stadiums combined?' Inspired by 'Costco Guys' So was the chicken bake as exciting as viral sensation Costco Guys made it out to be? 'Absolutely, 100%,' said Sara Anderson, of Stuart. 'I've been an OG chicken baker, but they reignited my passion.' The chicken bake is a handheld pocket filled with chicken, cheese, Caesar dressing and bacon baked inside a crispy, golden-brown crust. 'I would say it's like a pot pie — but not really,' she said. 'It reminds me of that because of the breading on the outside and the chicken on the inside.' Publix loses a customer 'We love Costco,' said Julie Pfeffer, 55, of Stuart, who was with her husband Paul, 65. The couple got everything they wanted but are planning to come back for a garden shed. 'I'm never, ever going to Publix again,' she said. Eager shoppers wait in a long line in the parking lot waiting to get in to the new Costco Warehouse during its grand opening April 25, 2025, at 3173 S. Kanner Hwy., Stuart. Parking tickets but no comment from Costco The 1,725-space parking lot appeared full by about 8:15 a.m. as people were driving around, waiting for the earliest shoppers to leave. Customers even parked illegally along the curb. Later in the morning, Stuart police wrote tickets for illegal parking along SE Legacy Way, a new street which connects Kanner Highway with Willoughby Boulevard, spokesperson Brian Bossio said. Store Assistant General Manager James Stedham declined to comment on the store's first day of operation and the opening-day crowd, some of whom waited more than two hours for the door to open. Keith Burbank is TCPalm's watchdog reporter covering Martin County. He can be reached at and at 720-288-6882. Jack Randall is TCPalm's economy and real estate reporter. You can reach him at or 904-466-4755. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: About 1,000 people wait as Costco opens its doors in Stuart
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Countdown to Costco: Gas station opens one month before much-anticipated retail warehouse
STUART — Costco Wholesale Corp. opened its members-only gas station here Tuesday, one month before opening its highly-anticipated retail store. The gas station is the first finished piece of the 49-acre development at 3173 S. Kanner Highway, just south of Martin County High School. The 156,438-square-foot Costco Wholesale store is to open 8 a.m. April 25. Workers waved signs along Kanner Highway Wednesday, beckoning drivers to sign up for memberships at a kiosk near the store entrance and to fill up their vehicles for the first time. Drivers who already had Costco memberships said they were impressed with the gas prices and said they were eager to start shopping at a Costco store closer to home. "It's quite a bit cheaper," said Jaimo Opila, of Stuart, after filling up his Ford Ranger XLT. He's had a Costco membership for more than 25 years, he said. "Not having to run to North Palm Beach is very, very convenient." A gallon of regular gas cost $2.73 per gallon Wednesday at Costco, the cheapest price in Martin County, according to GasBuddy, a comparison-search website for gasoline. "I just renewed my Costco membership at the end of last year, knowing that Costco was coming to Stuart," said Carla Williamson, of Stuart, adding she is excited to buy fresh produce and other goods in bulk. "I am thrilled, because it is going to help my family, in terms of cost of living. I have young children and food costs a lot." More: Stuart Costco store to open April 25 as 49-acre Kanner Highway development nears completion More: Stuart could get 'vast majority' of $206M-$400M economic benefit from Brightline station The gas station is open to members only. It has 12 pumps and 24 fuel positions. The station sold 500 gallons of gasoline on its opening day, according to Tony Sleugh, a Costco fuel operations manager. A Costco station typically sells 35,000 gallons of gas per day, he said, but the Stuart location is expected to ramp up to that volume once the adjoining store opens. Jack Randall is TCPalm's economy and real estate reporter. You can reach him at or 904-466-4755. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Countdown to Costco: Gas station opens one month before retail store
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida students win $1.6 million in scholarships from hospitality competition
ORLANDO Fla. (BLOOM) – More than 400 Florida high school students showcased their culinary and hospitality talents last weekend at the 24th annual ProStart Culinary Team Competition and the Hospitality & Tourism Management (HTM) Competition. The events, hosted by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF), awarded over $1.6 million in scholarships to students pursuing careers in the hospitality industry. Students from more than 40 high schools competed in various challenges, including culinary arts, restaurant management, edible centerpiece design, and the waiter's relay. Top-performing teams earned scholarships from institutions such as the Culinary Institute of America, Florida International University, Keiser University, and the University of Central Florida's Rosen College of Hospitality Management. Culinary winners also received full scholarships to Hillsborough Culinary Academies at Erwin Technical College. 'We are incredibly proud of the talent and dedication shown by these students,' said Laura Rumer, director of the FRLA Educational Foundation. 'These competitions highlight their skills and passion for the industry. It's inspiring to see so many receive scholarships and recognition for their hard work.' The first-place teams in both the culinary and management categories will advance to represent Florida at the national ProStart Invitational in Washington, D.C., this May. Carol Dover, president and CEO of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, emphasized the significance of investing in the next generation of hospitality leaders. 'Hospitality is at the heart of Florida's economy, and these students are its future,' Dover said. 'We are thrilled to support their growth through programs like ProStart and HTM, which provide them with the skills and opportunities needed to succeed.' Martin County High School (Stuart) Strawberry Crest High School (Dover) Wekiva High School (Apopka) (Tie) South Lake High School (Groveland) & Fort Pierce Central High School (Fort Pierce) (Tie) George Jenkins High School (Lakeland) & Lyman High School (Longwood) Wekiva High School (Apopka) Strawberry Crest High School (Dover) Martin County High School (Stuart) Bryar Stoney, Martin County High School Marie Townsel, Strawberry Crest High School Steven Twiss, George Jenkins High School Martin County High School (Stuart) Fort Pierce Central High School (Fort Pierce) South Lake High School (Groveland) The ProStart program is a national initiative that prepares nearly 150,000 high school students annually for careers in culinary arts and restaurant management. Florida's program is the largest in the country, with approximately 30,000 students enrolled each year. The HTM competition, now in its 21st year, featured categories including hotel operations, hospitality project management, and a knowledge bowl. Florida is the only state that hosts a statewide HTM contest. Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland) Colonial High School (Orlando) Osceola High School (Kissimmee) Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland) Olympia High School (Orlando) Colonial High School (Orlando) Colonial High School (Orlando) Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland) Robert Morgan Educational Center (Miami) 'These students have demonstrated an incredible depth of knowledge and leadership,' said Rumer. 'Their passion for the industry gives us great confidence in the future of Florida's hospitality sector.' The competitions were made possible through support from sponsors including Keiser University, Universal Orlando, Disney Culinary, Ecolab, and Florida Atlantic University. For more information on ProStart, HTM, or the FRLA Educational Foundation, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Martin County High School introduces new head football coach
WILLIAMSTON, N.C. (WNCT) — Martin County High School will have a new head football coach roaming the sidelines next season. John Wheeler, a Currituck native, was introduced as the Gators' new leader Monday. Wheeler has coached in college and high school, serving as head coach at Currituck High and previously coached on staff at UNC-Pembroke. 'There's so many opportunities to reach a different group. I think there's a lot of football that these guys are learning along the way,' Wheeler said. 'The Ah-Ha moment is really big with me, so I think just coming back to the high school level and again, being around guys I know and trust was the most attractive piece.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
