By STEPHANIE BARISH wpix.com

6:02 p.m. EST, November 12, 2009
NEW YORK (WPIX)—
People living in Manhattan no longer have to run to other parts of the city or visit the suburbs to pick up bargains at Costco.

The wholesale company opened up its first Manhattan store Thursday located at East River Plaza, a shopping mall that overlooks the FDR at 116th street in Harlem. The 105,000 square foot space features more than 3,500 different products, a massive fresh-food department, a pharmacy, an optical department, a hearing aid area, a photo center and a food court.

Costco has attempted to open a store in Manhattan three times over the last 10 years. The discount retailer already as locations in Queens, Staten Island and Brooklyn.

Other popular retailers like Target and Marshalls are expected to move into the shopping complex in the Spring.

Many residents in Manhattan are happy the discount retailer has made it into their neck of the woods.

"I am very happy...it's near my home," Priscila Benedicto told PIX News. "It's only two blocks away."

The store has given 375 people in the neighborhood an opportunity to work.