Fill 'Em Up!

In a town notorious for its high gas prices,  on Friday morning opened 16 pumps, where fuel is selling for $3.81 a gallon.

That's slightly below California's average of $3.86, and more affordable than the next cheapest offering in town, according to Gas Buddy, at the where it's selling for $3.95.

"This is the first time I've bought gas in San Juan Capistrano," joked City Councilman Larry Kramer while mingling at the station.

Customers will need a Costco card to activate the pumps, which can be accessed off Camino Capistrano just as turns into Doheny Park Road.

"We're determined to be the lowest price for gas every day," said general manager Steve Heller.

The addition of gasoline sales is part of a larger expansion at the northeast corner of the warehouse that is expected to open Nov. 10. The expansion was initially supposed to include a car wash, but Heller said the corporation couldn't find a way to make it profitable.

Plans are still a go, however, to build more space out of which to sell meats and cheeses and other perishables, seasonal goods and dairy. There will also be a new food court facing Doheny Road.

Heller declined to say how much Costco is spending on the expansion but did say it's a "pretty hefty" amount.