COLORADO SPRINGS - The new University Village Colorado shopping center is still under construction, but one of its anchor stores will officially open on Oct. 29.

The shopping center near North Nevada & Garden of the Gods is expected to draw big crowds. It's part of the city's urban renewal project that started in 2004.

Costco was supposed to open back in August, but now its Assistant General Manager, Travis Maze, says almost everything is ready.

"We're about 90 percent done," said Maze. "It's about 159-thousand square feet."

In fact, the store is one of the largest in Colorado. Managers say its size alone will help give a big boost to the city's economy.

"We want to make an impact on the local economy," Maze said. "We will have 200 employees of which 118 will be local."

Costco has also hired 2 dozen students from U.C.C.S. and Pikes Peak Community College. Their opening is expected to bring strong businesses back to an area that used to be notoriously known for crime.

"We've done initial opening canvassing for our sign-up drive," said Maze. "The biggest consensus was that this area wasn't the most approachable and now with this development across from U.C.C.S., it's going to make a big impact."