Costco

Costco is a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: COST), meaning it's owned by its shareholders. No single person or private entity controls it, institutional investors like Vanguard and BlackRock are among the largest shareholders, alongside company insiders.

Despite what many assume, Executive membership does not come with early entry access. All membership tiers, Gold Star, Gold Star Executive, and Business, get through the doors at the same time, typically 10 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and 10 a.m. on Sundays (though hours vary by location). The Executive tier's perks are financial, a 2% annual reward on purchases, not scheduling privileges.

Costco cut ties with American Express in 2016 after a 16-year exclusive partnership, switching to an exclusive deal with Visa, specifically, the Costco Anywhere Visa card issued by Citi. The split reportedly came down to the fees Amex charges merchants, which conflicted with Costco's obsessive, near-fanatical commitment to keeping costs low. Costco now accepts Visa exclusively for credit card payments in-warehouse in the U.S.

Costco is cheap by design, not accident. It caps product markups at around 14% (compare that to 25–50% at traditional grocers), buys in enormous volume to extract maximum supplier leverage, and sells a deliberately limited selection, roughly 4,000 SKUs versus 30,000+ at a typical supermarket. The membership fee subsidizes the whole system, letting Costco treat its shelves almost like a loss leader.

There is no single owner. Costco is a publicly held corporation traded on the NASDAQ. Co-founder Jim Sinegal retired as CEO in 2012 and no longer runs the company, though founding families and executives hold stakes. The real "owners" are the millions of shareholders on the open market.

Ron Vachris became Costco's President and CEO in January 2024, succeeding Craig Jelinek, who had held the role since 2012. Vachris is a Costco lifer, he started as a forklift operator and worked his way up over decades, which is exactly the kind of origin story Costco loves to tell about itself.

Costco's most direct competitor is Sam's Club, the warehouse chain owned by Walmart, which operates on nearly the same membership model. BJ's Wholesale Club competes in the Eastern U.S. On a broader scale, Amazon, Target, and Walmart all compete for the same wallet share, but none of them fully replicate the warehouse club experience that keeps Costco's renewal rates above 90%.

A slice of Costco food court cheese pizza clocks in at around 700 calories, while a pepperoni slice runs closer to 720–760 calories. The whole 18-inch pizza contains roughly 4,200–4,500 calories depending on toppings. It's an unapologetically massive, famously cheap ($1.99 a slice for decades before modest price adjustments) product that Costco has refused to mess with despite inflation pressure.

Costco is actually the largest wine and spirits retailer in the United States by volume, but whether your local warehouse sells alcohol depends entirely on state law. States like California, Washington, Texas, and Arizona allow Costco to sell liquor directly. States with stricter alcohol control laws (like Pennsylvania, which has a state-run system) may restrict or prohibit it. Check your specific state's regulations and call your local warehouse to confirm.

Zyn nicotine pouches have been reported as available at select Costco locations, typically sold in bulk multi-can packs consistent with Costco's format. Availability varies significantly by location and local tobacco regulations. Since Costco doesn't publish a national product locator at the SKU level, your best bet is to call your local warehouse or check the Costco app/website for in-store availability in your area.

If you spend more than $500 a year at Costco, which is not hard to do, the Executive Membership at $130/year beats the Gold Star at $65/year, because the 2% annual reward pays back up to $1,000. Costco even guarantees the reward will at least match the membership fee difference, or they'll refund it. For most regular Costco shoppers, Executive is the obvious financial winner.

Get the Executive Membership if you shop at Costco more than occasionally, the 2% reward on eligible purchases will cover the extra $65 cost if you spend around $3,250 or more annually, and Costco backstops the math anyway. If you're testing Costco for the first time or shop rarely, start with Gold Star at $65 and upgrade once you know you'll use it. Business membership is specifically for those who need business pricing and the ability to buy for resale.

Not all Costco gas stations offer diesel, it's a location-by-location variable. Costco does carry diesel at a subset of its fuel stations, and given its reputation for beating local pump prices, it's worth checking. Use the Costco warehouse locator on Costco.com and filter by gas station to find locations near you, then call ahead to confirm diesel availability specifically.

New Jersey's liquor licensing laws are notoriously restrictive, and Costco warehouses in NJ have historically faced significant hurdles selling spirits directly. Costco has pushed to sell liquor at its New Jersey locations and has navigated licensing on a store-by-store basis. The situation has evolved over time, so your most reliable answer is to call the specific NJ Costco location (there are several, including Hackensack, Linden, and Teterboro) and ask directly.

This one requires the Costco warehouse locator at Costco.com or the Costco app, enter your zip code and it'll surface the nearest location with hours, services, and gas station availability. There's no way to answer this generically; it's entirely location-dependent and Costco's own tool is the fastest path to the answer.

Most Costco warehouses operate seven days a week, typically 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. However, Costco closes on a specific set of holidays, New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, which is more than most big retailers. Check Costco.com for your specific location's hours.

The 2006 comedy *Employee of the Month*, starring Dane Cook, Jessica Simpson, and Dax Shepard, was not filmed at an actual Costco. The production built a fictional warehouse store called "Super Club" and filmed primarily on sets and at a Sam's Club location in Las Vegas, Nevada. Costco did not participate in or authorize the film.

Standard Costco warehouse closing time is 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 6 p.m. on weekends, but hours vary by location and the warehouse closes entirely on major U.S. holidays. The Costco app and website have a real-time locator that shows today's specific hours for any warehouse. Don't assume, holiday schedules catch people off guard constantly.

Costco gas stations typically close earlier than the warehouse itself, usually around 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and 7 p.m. on weekends, but this varies meaningfully by location. Gas stations also close on the same holidays as the warehouse. Since the fuel prices alone can justify membership for frequent drivers, it's worth saving your local station's hours in your phone.

Most Costco gas stations open before the warehouse, commonly around 6 a.m. on weekdays, giving commuters early access to what are typically among the lowest fuel prices in the area. Weekend opening times are often slightly later, around 7 a.m. Hours are location-specific, so confirm via the Costco app or a quick call to your warehouse.