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One of the many reasons to love Costco is the food court that greets you like an oasis in the desert at the end of your shopping journey, and while some stores previously permitted members of the unwashed masses to take advantage of that amenity, it appears that’s about to change.
The first Costco warehouse opened its doors in Seattle in 1983, and the store slowly but surely expanded its dominion by attracting customers who were drawn to its locations by the promise of the discounts that come with buying in bulk.
That aspect still serves as Costco’s primary draw, but it also sets itself apart from the pack with its proprietary line of “Kirkland Signature” products and, of course, the $1.50 hot dog and a soda combo with a price that’s remained the same since it was first introduced all the way back in 1984.
In addition to that flagship item, the food court also boasts pizza, chicken bakes, sandwiches, and the giant cookie that quietly replaced the churro last year (although some customers have recently reported that second item has been spotted back on the menu in some stores).
As you probably know, you need to have a membership to shop at Costco, but that’s not necessarily the case if you want to take advantage of the food court; some locations (primarily those located outside of the store) require you to scan your card, there are still plenty of others that don’t ask you to verify you belong before placing an order.
However, based on a photo that recently surfaced on Reddit, it seems like that’s about to change, as a sign appeared at the Costco in Orlando informing shoppers that a membership will be required to order at the food court beginning on April 8, 2024 (another user in New Orleans says they saw the same sign, so this appears to be the result of a corporate edict).
At the end of the day, it’s hard to imagine this will impact many people (I find it hard to imagine a sizeable chunk of Costco food court customers are only there for the food it serves up), and it’s safe to assume members won’t miss the presence of anyone who was increasing the size of the lines by taking advantage of the loophole.