There are only 23 Costco Business Centers across the US and these outposts take “bulk” to another level.
Over 70% of its products are different from what’s available at a typical Costco warehouse.
See what it’s like shopping at the Costco Business Center in Hackensack, New Jersey.
Even if you consider yourself an avid Costco shopper, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve never heard of the brand’s smaller branch: the Costco Business Center.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And if you’ve visited one of its 23 locations across the US, you’ll know exactly why it’s called the “Business Center.”
Brittany Chang/Insider
These stores are accessible to all Costco members whether they own a business or not.
Brittany Chang/Insider
But these locations aren’t your average warehouse clubs. And if you’re here to run errands for just you and your partner, you may be overwhelmed by the selection.
Brittany Chang/Insider
If you think “everything is bigger in Texas,” just wait until you see the inside of a Costco Business Center.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Costco warehouses are known for their bulk items.
Brittany Chang/Insider
But here, “bulk” means 50 pounds of onions and 40-pound bags of potatoes.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Source: Insider
Most of these stores are located in California. But if you live in cities like Minneapolis, Dallas, and Phoenix, there’s a chance you may have driven past one of these unassuming Costco stores.
Brittany Chang/Insider
The closest location to my home in New York City is about 15 miles away in Hackensack, New Jersey.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And when I decided to visit one early Friday afternoon, I found a store unlike any I’ve ever shopped in.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Costco Business Centers open earlier than the typical Costco at 7 a.m., likely to accommodate the store’s primary customer base: small business owners.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Source: Costco, Insider
But these hours of operation are only the beginning of the differences between a typical Costco Warehouse and these more uncommon locations.
Brittany Chang/Insider
When I visited, there were no large bustling crowds of people maneuvering their shopping carts through packed aisles.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Instead, the New Jersey location was quiet and calm. Most of the shoppers either came alone or with another person.
Brittany Chang/Insider
I’ve always associated Costco with big crowds. But when I started to take note of this location’s inventory, I began to realize why the store wasn’t bustling with families.
Brittany Chang/Insider
I was expecting to see a typically large stock of home goods and personal items.Costco Croydon clothes
Beatrice Nolan
But here, there were no mountains of clothes or locked display cabinets of jewelry.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And there were certainly no long aisles of children’s toys, liquor, sports goods, or electronics.
Brittany Chang/Insider
In fact, over 70% of the products sold at the business center are different than what you can buy at a typical Costco warehouse, according to the retail giant.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Source: Costco
You can’t buy a new pair of shoes, but you can purchase bulk food and beverage products perfect for restocking a vending machine or snack counter.
Brittany Chang/Insider
I didn’t find any holiday decorations, a photo center, or furniture. But I did spot boxes filled with 24 bags of watermelon Sour Patch Kids.
Brittany Chang/Insider
There are no free sample stands or a pharmacy …Costco, Croydon, food samples
Beatrice Nolan / Insider
… but there was a selection of 5.5-pound jars of Red Vines …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… and bulk boxes of single-serving snacks, whether it be Cheez-Its, Famous Amos cookies, or Chex Mix.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Feeling thirsty? The Costco also had aisles of bulk canned beverages, including a variety of Arizona Iced Teas cases …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… a pack of 24 Yoo-hoo Chocolate Drinks I would’ve loved as a child …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… and stacks of enough soda options to excite any elementary school classroom.
Brittany Chang/Insider
You may be noticing a trend: Costco Business Center is all about going big.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Buying pounds of the same snacks and beverages might not make sense for most everyday consumers.
Brittany Chang/Insider
But if you operate vending machines, convenience stores, or a snack counter, Costco Business Centers may be one of the most accessible stores for restocking your inventory.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And the bulk servings don’t end here.
Brittany Chang/Insider
It’s not unusual to find large jars of mayonnaise at a typical Costco.
Brittany Chang/Insider
But if you can’t get enough of the condiment, Costco Business Center sells mayo by the gallon.
Brittany Chang/Insider
You can also buy a 40-pound bucket of tahini …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… 35-pound box of peanut oil …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… and even a bucket of soy sauce so large it has a handle.
Brittany Chang/Insider
If you love topping every meal with a small pile of caramelized onions, maybe the 50-pound bag of yellow onions would be a good investment.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And if you are a true fan of dairy and meat, you may have dreamed of this Business Center’s walk-in refrigerator.
Brittany Chang/Insider
There was a selection of reasonably sized meats and dairy. But if you’re only here for bulk shopping, there were also plenty of five-pound blocks of cheese …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… packs of 60 eggs …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… and enough meat to scare even the biggest barbecue lover.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Besides the pounds of meat and cheese, there were several products that were obviously catered toward business owners.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Take the 24 pounds of frozen fries in an unappetizing cardboard box as an example.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Or this unassuming box of Dorito chips for “vending and food service.”
Brittany Chang/Insider
There were also several containers labeled specifically for “food service” like this bucket of Nutella.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And I would definitely be surprised to see an everyday consumer bringing home packs of 4,500-foot dispenser paper towel rolls, dish soap labeled for janitorial use …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… large boxes of disposable food containers, and multiple receipt rolls.
Brittany Chang/Insider
It was evident that these Costco Business Centers were not designed for shoppers like me: When I buy groceries, I’m only shopping for two people.
Brittany Chang/Insider
A 10-pound slab of steak and a whole fish probably wouldn’t fit in my refrigerator.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And I’m pretty sure this hefty bag of green beans is about the same size as the shelf in my freezer.
Brittany Chang/Insider
A seven-pound box of granulated garlic would’ve been imprudent for me to purchase …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… and I don’t use enough sweeteners to justify a 1,200-packet box of Splenda.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And that’s reasonable: Costco Business Centers doesn’t cater to shoppers like me.
Brittany Chang/Insider
After all, it’s called the “Business Center” for a reason.
Brittany Chang/Insider
For non-business owners, shopping here may make sense if you plan on hosting a large party or supplying food to many people.
Brittany Chang/Insider
And if you cook for a large family, Costco’s Business Centers may be your best solution in a time of inflation and rising grocery bills.
Brittany Chang/Insider
There were still several bulk items that might’ve made sense for a shopper like me to purchase …
Brittany Chang/Insider
… like this large container of extra virgin olive oil or the smaller-portioned bags of protein.
Brittany Chang/Insider
But at the end of the day, the Costco Business Center’s 45-bag container of Cheez-Its and large box of white copy paper had no place on my grocery list.
Brittany Chang/Insider
