While shoppers across the San Gabriel Valley already know Alhambra as a retail destination, new data from Placer.ai shows just how busy the city’s shopping centers are.
The Alhambra Costco Wholesale ranks as the 7th busiest Costco in the United States, landing in the 98th percentile nationwide. Just down the street, Target ranks as the 4th busiest Target in the country, placing it in the 99th percentile for foot traffic.
The numbers continue across multiple national chains:
- Albertsons: 7th busiest in the U.S.
- PetSmart: 5th busiest in the U.S.
- The Home Depot: 42nd busiest in the U.S.
The city is also home to the number one Sky Zone location in the country, along with the busiest Kohl’s in Southern California.
“It doesn’t surprise me much,” shared Tobey, a Pasadena resident who came to Costco to shop on the 3rd of July, one of the busiest days of the year. “The stores here are a good fit for the city. I live in Pasadena, but this is my Costco. I love Main Street and the food, and I like to drive around and try new restaurants in Alhambra when I visit.”
Taken together, the rankings highlight Alhambra’s role as one of the region’s strongest commercial hubs. The city draws shoppers not only from neighboring San Gabriel Valley communities, but from across greater Los Angeles thanks to its central location, dense surrounding population, and concentration of major retailers along Main Street and Fremont Avenue.
For local residents, the crowds can sometimes mean packed parking lots and long checkout lines. But for the city’s business community, the data reinforces something many retailers have already recognized for years: Alhambra delivers traffic at a level few cities in the country can match.
The rankings also speak to the broader economic importance of retail in Alhambra. High-performing shopping centers help generate sales tax revenue that supports city services while driving additional activity for nearby restaurants, cafes, and small businesses that benefit from the constant flow of visitors. In a region filled with shopping options, Alhambra continues to stand out as a destination people are willing to travel to.
