Texas Roadhouse Costco buzz grows as new restaurant opens next to Costco and shoppers watch gift-card rules
Texas Roadhouse and Costco are colliding in the public conversation this week, driven by a mix of real estate expansion, value-seeking shoppers, and confusion around restaurant gift cards sold through warehouse channels. The phrase texas roadhouse costco is trending as fans spot a new Texas Roadhouse being built beside a Costco warehouse in Tennessee, while other Costco shoppers are re-checking which restaurant gift cards are safe to use after a separate multi-restaurant gift card program was halted.
The two brands are not announcing a formal partnership, but the overlap is real: Costco-adjacent development continues to attract high-traffic restaurants, and Texas Roadhouse is leaning into momentum after a strong start to 2026.
Texas Roadhouse Costco: New location next to Costco set for April 6 opening
The biggest concrete driver behind texas roadhouse costco searches is a new Texas Roadhouse restaurant under construction in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, located near a Costco warehouse. The restaurant’s opening date is set for Monday, April 6, 2026 (ET).
The new unit is planned as a 7,300-square-foot restaurant with dine-in and to-go service and is expected to hire about 205 employees. Hours are set to begin with dinner service on weekdays and expanded weekend service, a familiar schedule pattern for high-volume suburban locations.
For Texas Roadhouse, the placement is strategic: Costco sites typically sit in dense retail corridors designed for heavy vehicle flow, large parking footprints, and frequent repeat visits—exactly the kind of traffic that supports a casual-dining anchor.
Why Costco-adjacent sites attract restaurants like Texas Roadhouse
The texas roadhouse costco pairing reflects a broader development playbook rather than a one-off coincidence. Costco warehouses often become “gravity” tenants in growing suburbs, pulling in shoppers who arrive with time to spare and a willingness to spend.
Restaurants benefit from:
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predictable evening and weekend traffic
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wide, easy-access parking and signage visibility
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a built-in stream of group dining (families and multi-person trips)
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proximity to other retail errands that turn into “let’s grab dinner” decisions
For diners, it’s equally simple: a Costco run is rarely quick, and a recognizable restaurant nearby can become the default post-shopping stop.
Texas Roadhouse momentum in 2026: sales surge and expansion plans
The timing also matters. Texas Roadhouse has signaled a strong early 2026 performance, with comparable sales rising 8.2% in the first seven weeks of the first quarter. That kind of start supports the chain’s growth posture and helps explain why new builds in high-traffic corridors are still moving forward when many casual-dining brands are shrinking.
Texas Roadhouse has also outlined a plan to open roughly 35 new restaurants in 2026, following 30 openings in 2025. The Mount Juliet build fits that broader expansion push, especially in fast-growing suburban markets where housing growth and retail investment remain strong.
Costco gift cards and the shutdown confusion: what shoppers should know
Another reason texas roadhouse costco is popping up in searches is broader anxiety about restaurant gift cards purchased at Costco. Costco recently notified customers about refunds tied to a third-party multi-restaurant gift card program that became invalid after the operator ceased operations and entered bankruptcy proceedings.
That situation has led some shoppers to wonder whether brand-specific cards are impacted. The key distinction is that the invalidated program involved multi-merchant cards managed by a third party, not necessarily the standard brand-specific gift cards people buy for a single restaurant chain.
This has created a “double-check everything” moment: shoppers are scrutinizing packaging, purchase dates, and whether a card is tied to a specific restaurant brand or a third-party network.
What this means for diners and shoppers: a quick guide
| Topic | What’s happening now (ET) | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Roadhouse near Costco | Mount Juliet, TN location opening April 6, 2026 | Expect high demand early; plan for waits in opening weeks |
| Texas Roadhouse business trend | Comparable sales up 8.2% early Q1 | More new locations likely in high-traffic suburbs |
| Costco restaurant gift cards | A third-party multi-restaurant program became invalid; refunds offered for affected purchases | Check whether your card is brand-specific or multi-merchant; keep receipts if available |
| “texas roadhouse costco” chatter | Driven by the new Costco-adjacent restaurant and gift card uncertainty | Don’t assume a formal partnership; treat it as co-location + consumer value hunting |
What’s next for the texas roadhouse costco storyline
In the near term, the focus stays local: the Mount Juliet opening will draw crowds, hiring, and traffic buzz in a retail corridor already anchored by Costco. At the same time, gift card confusion is likely to linger as shoppers sort brand-specific restaurant cards from third-party programs and look for reassurance before planning nights out.
The bigger picture is that texas roadhouse costco is becoming a shorthand for two consumer instincts colliding at once: convenience (eat where you shop) and value (discounts, bulk buying, and gift-card deals). As long as suburban retail hubs keep expanding, and as long as diners keep chasing reliability, the pairing will keep showing up—whether or not the two brands ever formally connect.
