Potential Changes on the Way for Costco Food Court Fans

Customers wait in line to order below signage for the Costco Kirkland Signature $1.50 hot dog and soda combo, which has maintained the same price since 1985 despite consumer price increases and inflation, at the food court outside a Costco Wholesale Corp. store in Hawthorne, Calif., on June 14, 2022. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Costco’s food courts have long been easygoing about allowing non-members to savour its poutine, ice cream cones, and other treats.

But, if the wholesale stores in Canada follow the example of those in the United States, Costco’s famous $1.50 hot dog combo deal may soon be off-limits to anyone who doesn’t hold a club membership.

A lengthy Reddit thread recently revealed a Costco membership will be required at all Costco stores in the United States by April, and some comments suggest Canadian food courts may soon follow suit.

“They’re already stopping people from entering the food court area without showing a membership card here in Ottawa,” one commenter said.

A Vancouver Costco reportedly welcomes non-member food court foodies, while some other B.C. stores require all customers to have a membership.

As another Reddit user pointed out, Canada “typically follows suit on American policy roll out, however there may be some discretion by the individual warehouse manager.”

The Epoch Times contacted Costco Canada to confirm whether the policy is coming to Canada, but did not receive a comment by press time.

If Costco adopts this approach in Canada, it will signal a move away from the company’s previous stance that food court use by non-members could lead to new memberships when they see what the store has to offer.

The potential policy change could be attributed to Costco’s already ample membership base of 130 million cardholders across 73.4 million households as of Feb. 18. The company recorded annual net sales of $237.7 billion in fiscal 2023, according to investor documentation.

If the policy comes to Canada’s Costcos, food court enthusiasts will have to weigh the pros and cons of taking out a membership. For those who plan to shop and eat, the membership could be a worthwhile cost.

A basic membership is $60 annually while an executive membership is $120.

For those who want to retain access to a favourite food court with no interest in shopping, that will make the $1.50 hot dog deal much more expensive.