I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (2024)

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During a trip home to Wisconsin in November, I visited a Costco store in Grafton, Wisconsin, measuring 151,000 square feet. A large technology section was set up at the entrance. There were also tables full of winter coats, sweaters, and other apparel. The store wasn't too crowded on the Thursday afternoon I visited, with plenty of room to move in the aisles. The Kirkland bakery sold cookies, pastries, and birthday cakes. The produce was located in a walk-in refrigerated section. The samples were plentiful, with Costco employees handing out veggie crisps, granola-bar pieces, and cups of sparkling water. I spotted a few local products like cheddar cheese curds produced in Ellsworth, Wisconsin. This Costco also stocked coffee beans roasted in Door County, Wisconsin. The lines for both self checkout and cashiers were only a few carts deep and moved quickly. The food court was located beyond the checkout counters and sold pizza, chicken bakes, sandwiches, hot dogs, and desserts like churros and ice-cream sundaes. A sign on the window notified customers about potential allergy issues. The soda fountain included Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Tropicana lemonade, and Starry lemon-lime soda. Next to the food court, there were plenty of tables where customers could sit and eat before heading to their next destination. When I returned to New York City, I visited Manhattan's sole Costco location in East Harlem. The Costco store is part of East River Plaza, a shopping complex that also includes stores like Aldi, Marshalls, and Ashley Homestore. Unlike in the Midwest, where free parking lots are the norm at most stores, parking in the East River Plaza's garage costs $6 for up to two hours. People were already lined up and waiting to get in when I arrived a few minutes before the store opened at 10 a.m. on a Friday in January. At 110,000 square feet, New York City's Costco store was noticeably smaller than the one I visited in the Midwest. At times, I found it difficult to navigate my cart through the crowds and smaller aisles. New York's Costco store had many of the same warm clothing items on display. There was a large selection of cheeses, but no Wisconsin cheese curds. Some signs varied slightly between stores — for example, a sign at the Midwest Costco indicated "fresh produce," while the New York Costco just said "produce." The New York City Costco also had a kosher bakery section where cakes and pastries were prepared in accordance with Jewish dietary laws. Costco's famous $4.99 rotisserie chickens cost the same at both stores, though they flew off the shelves in New York as shoppers waited for each fresh batch. I was surprised there weren't any samples available to try, but a Costco employee later told me that the stations hadn't been set up yet so soon after opening. Both the cashier and self-checkout lines stretched out into the aisles with large numbers of people jostling for spots. Above the checkout lines, signs advertised the food court's offerings, which were identical to the Wisconsin Costco's menu and prices. One difference I noticed in the food court was that unlike in the Midwest, no allergy information was posted on the display case. Additionally, the soda fountain in Manhattan offered Brisk iced tea instead of Starry. Compared to the Midwest, New York City's Costco felt like a more cramped, hectic shopping experience to me, but the low prices and huge selection make it worth the trip in any region.

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Talia Lakritz

Updated

2024-04-29T16:07:37Z

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (1)

I visited two Costco stores, one in the Midwest and one in New York City.
New York City's Costco store was smaller, which made it feel more crowded.
The prices and offerings were mostly identical, though the food courts featured different sodas.

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As someone who grew up in Wisconsin and moved to New York City a decade ago, I enjoy analyzing the similarities and differences between the two regions I call home.

As part of a series comparing nationwide chains like Target and Trader Joe's in the Midwest and New York City, I visited Costco locations in Wisconsin and Manhattan. My Gold Star membership, which costs $60 per year, grants me entry to all Costco stores.

Costco remains a popular brand across the US and the world, offering bulk items at lower prices than many retailers. Its net sales added up to $237.71 billion in the 2023 fiscal year, a 6.7% increase from 2022.

While Costco stores are pretty standardized, which I found when I visited a Costco in Iceland, I was still interested to see if there were any regional variations in their prices, items, and shopping experiences.

During a trip home to Wisconsin in November, I visited a Costco store in Grafton, Wisconsin, measuring 151,000 square feet.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (5)

A large technology section was set up at the entrance.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (6)

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There were also tables full of winter coats, sweaters, and other apparel.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (7)

The store wasn't too crowded on the Thursday afternoon I visited, with plenty of room to move in the aisles.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (8)

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The Kirkland bakery sold cookies, pastries, and birthday cakes.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (9)

The produce was located in a walk-in refrigerated section.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (10)

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The samples were plentiful, with Costco employees handing out veggie crisps, granola-bar pieces, and cups of sparkling water.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (11)

I spotted a few local products like cheddar cheese curds produced in Ellsworth, Wisconsin.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (12)

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This Costco also stocked coffee beans roasted in Door County, Wisconsin.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (13)

The lines for both self checkout and cashiers were only a few carts deep and moved quickly.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (14)

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The food court was located beyond the checkout counters and sold pizza, chicken bakes, sandwiches, hot dogs, and desserts like churros and ice-cream sundaes.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (15)

A sign on the window notified customers about potential allergy issues.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (16)

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The soda fountain included Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Tropicana lemonade, and Starry lemon-lime soda.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (17)

Next to the food court, there were plenty of tables where customers could sit and eat before heading to their next destination.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (18)

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When I returned to New York City, I visited Manhattan's sole Costco location in East Harlem.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (19)

The Costco store is part of East River Plaza, a shopping complex that also includes stores like Aldi, Marshalls, and Ashley Homestore.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (20)

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Unlike in the Midwest, where free parking lots are the norm at most stores, parking in the East River Plaza's garage costs $6 for up to two hours.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (21)

People were already lined up and waiting to get in when I arrived a few minutes before the store opened at 10 a.m. on a Friday in January.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (22)

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At 110,000 square feet, New York City's Costco store was noticeably smaller than the one I visited in the Midwest.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (23)

At times, I found it difficult to navigate my cart through the crowds and smaller aisles.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (24)

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New York's Costco store had many of the same warm clothing items on display.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (25)

There was a large selection of cheeses, but no Wisconsin cheese curds.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (26)

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Some signs varied slightly between stores — for example, a sign at the Midwest Costco indicated "fresh produce," while the New York Costco just said "produce."

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (27)

The New York City Costco also had a kosher bakery section where cakes and pastries were prepared in accordance with Jewish dietary laws.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (28)

Advertisem*nt

Costco's famous $4.99 rotisserie chickens cost the same at both stores, though they flew off the shelves in New York as shoppers waited for each fresh batch.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (29)

I was surprised there weren't any samples available to try, but a Costco employee later told me that the stations hadn't been set up yet so soon after opening.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (30)

Advertisem*nt

Both the cashier and self-checkout lines stretched out into the aisles with large numbers of people jostling for spots.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (31)

Above the checkout lines, signs advertised the food court's offerings, which were identical to the Wisconsin Costco's menu and prices.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (32)

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One difference I noticed in the food court was that unlike in the Midwest, no allergy information was posted on the display case.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (33)

Additionally, the soda fountain in Manhattan offered Brisk iced tea instead of Starry.

I shopped at Costco in the Midwest and New York City. Here are the most surprising differences I noticed. (34)

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Compared to the Midwest, New York City's Costco felt like a more cramped, hectic shopping experience to me, but the low prices and huge selection make it worth the trip in any region.