it’s the newest “hottest club.”<\/a><\/p>\nIn an earnings call at the end of last month, Costco’s CFO Gary Millerchip said nearly half of the wholesaler’s new members between June and August were under 40. He credited Costco’s online sign-up option as a key driver.<\/p>\n
I now live in New York City and, after joining Costco, assumed I would order products online, but that was before I learned there was a Costco in Manhattan. I couldn’t quite grasp the concept of a Costco \u2014 which are more common in suburban areas \u2014 in the city: How could you transport the giant bulk items without a car?<\/p>\n
I also wanted to know if a New York City Costco is the same as the suburban Costco I’ve visited in the past. Did both locations sell the same items? And would I see people on the city streets lugging giant packs of toilet paper?<\/p>\n
In September 2024, I paid two Costcos a visit: the one in East Harlem, and one in the Long Island town of Westbury, which is about 33 miles outside New York City.<\/p>\n
Here’s what it was like to shop at both locations.<\/p>\n
There are eight Costco locations on Long Island. When I visited the Westbury location on a Tuesday, the parking lot was packed.<\/p>\n
![\"long](\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg)
<\/p>\n
The parking lot was busy when I arrived, and I had to park far away from the store.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
The shopping carts were in front of an attached but separate liquor store. In New York, grocery stores can’t sell hard alcohol.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This location also has a tire center.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
After flashing my membership card and being waved in by an employee, I saw just how large this location is. It felt like an airplane hangar.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
For how busy it was, it didn’t feel that crowded.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
One of the first sections I saw was a technology section with laptops and tablets.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If you wanted to buy a big-ticket item, you needed to speak to an associate.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
There are also plenty of huge TVs.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The TVs ranged in price.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
From across the floor, I could see a hearing-aid center, which I didn’t even know Costco had.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Costcos typically have pharmacies, too.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
This location was also offering flu shots.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It can be cheaper to buy an Apple product at Costco, and it has a better return policy.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
I wandered through the aisles, struck by how huge this place and its products were.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The aisles felt endless.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
It was selling gift cards for AMC, Instacart, and DoorDash. There was also a Topgolf section \u2014 there’s one Topgolf location on Long Island.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I’ve never seen so many gift cards.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
In the center of the store was the clothing section. It seemed endless, with sweaters, jackets, pants, activewear, and more.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, there’s nowhere to try them on, so you have to eyeball everything.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
I was immediately drawn to the Costco merch. I ended up purchasing a sweatshirt for $19.99.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I bought the gray one.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
The furniture section was also in the center, but Costco devotees say the layout changes constantly, making shopping a “treasure hunt.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I can’t imagine how this works.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
I was taken aback to see that a giant couch was for sale. Would I find the same selection of furniture at the Manhattan store?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
There were couches, recliners, bookcases, desks, TV stands, and more.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
Nearby was a large table filled with books. In June 2024, publishing execs said Costco would stop selling books except around the holidays, but clearly, this store didn’t get the memo.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I might start buying my books solely from Costco.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
It wasn’t just dingy paperbacks, either. I could’ve bought the Pulitzer Prize winner “Demon Copperhead” for $12.99.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
There was also a variant of the romantasy novel “Fourth Wing” I’d never seen before.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
There was a sizable outdoor section with tents, fire pits, a blow-up tub, and more.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Costco is a one-stop shop for a backyard oasis.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
Another surprise was the garden section. There were rows of trees, mums, and other flowers.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I wanted to buy some flowers, but you had to purchase a four-pack, which I didn’t need.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
There were even delicately wrapped orchids.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Orchids can be expensive, so $21.99 is a good price.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
And, of course, as it’s fall, there were bins and bins of pumpkins.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
One of the pumpkin bins had a reference to Charlie Brown’s Halloween special.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
Fittingly, the Halloween costumes were nearby. There weren’t that many options to choose from.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It was mainly unlicensed costumes, like astronauts or firefighters.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
But the decor is where Costco really shines. I walked by a 7-foot-tall werewolf and almost jumped.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This cost $249.99.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
There was more candy than at Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Chocolate as far as the eye can see.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
There was also a lot of Disney merchandise for Halloween, which I didn’t expect.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
There were clocks, figurines, and more.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
For example, there were huge “Nightmare Before Christmas” plushies. That’s my hand for scale.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
There were Jack Skellington and Sally plushies.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
Even though it was only September when I visited, a lot of Christmas decorations were already out.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This Christmas village retails at $129.99.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
Like, a lot.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
There were lawn reindeer, multiple trees, blow-up snowmen, and more.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
If you ever need to wrap presents, Costco is the place to go.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Even though it was 75 degrees out when I went, I was somehow ready for Christmas after walking down this aisle.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
As I made my way toward the back of the store, I started seeing more food and drinks, like these crates of beer.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If I had a garage and was throwing a giant party, I could see how this might be cost-effective.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
There’s a bakery, a rotisserie section, a deli, and another meat section at the back of this location.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Costco is known for its food.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
There are aisles and aisles of meat products.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Items here would be better suited for a family of four or more.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
I am a single person who lives with a roommate. It would take us months to get through all of this pork shoulder.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
More likely, it would go bad before we could eat it all.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
I have a car available on Long Island, so it would be relatively easy and quick for me to transport all this refrigerated food home \u2014 but not in NYC.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Carrying around frozen or refrigerated groceries in the city can be difficult. It’s why I normally get groceries delivered.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
There was also a separate produce room.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It was colder in there than the rest of the store.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
It was filled with crates of fruits and veggies. The large containers of strawberries would rot before I could eat them all.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I couldn’t believe how much food I was seeing.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
There’s also a milk and eggs room. This area was particularly crowded during my visit.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It was surrounded by toilet paper, which was also flying off the shelves.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
As I exited with my meager single bag of purchases, I wondered how I would fare at the NYC location.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
These ornaments were one of my favorite purchases.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
As I walked to my car, I noticed people loading up their trunks with cartfuls of items. Would \u2014 and could \u2014\u00a0people be doing that in the city, too?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Could they fill up a taxi or Uber with bags?<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
A week later, I visited the East Harlem Costco, one of four Costcos in New York City. It’s inside the East River Plaza shopping complex.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The first thing I saw was this parking garage.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
The multi-level mall also has an Aldi, Bob’s Discount Furniture, and Planet Fitness.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I didn’t realize this Costco was in a mall until I arrived.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
There is a parking garage that all shoppers share, but it’s not free. Less than a quarter of Manhattan households have a car anyway.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Parking was paid by the hour.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
I took the bus to get to Costco. On my way up, I was already thinking about how difficult it would be to transport multiple bulk items without a car.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I had to walk one-and-a-half longer avenue blocks to get to the Costco.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
On my way there, I noticed people pushing carts like this one toward the store. It’s the easiest way to transport groceries in NYC.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I’ve thought of buying my own one of these many times.<\/p>\n
rblfmr\/Shutterstock <\/p>\n
Unlike at the location in the suburbs, I had to physically scan my membership card to get in.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The stores were identical in aesthetic.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
The store was generally set up the same way as the Long Island location, down to the electronics section being the first thing I saw.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I’m not sure this section ever moves.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
There was an eyeglasses and eye-exam area, just like in Westbury.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This area was crowded.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
The gift cards were in the same spot, but there were different options. I spotted cards for Mighty Quinn’s, a New York-based barbecue chain.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Mighty Quinn’s was started in New York, but has expanded to other states.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
There were also gift cards for Subway and Crumbl, a cookie chain.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
There are lots of Subway locations in NYC.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
Walking around, I was struck by how annoying it would be to cart a case of water bottles back to my apartment. Plus, I didn’t have space for them.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
One of these would take up half my kitchen.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
The ceiling at this Costco was much lower, making it appear smaller, even though the location is 110,000 square feet.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The ceiling wasn’t as cavernous.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
Source: The New York Times<\/p>\n
The furniture selection was much more limited than in the suburban store. There were no giant couches in sight.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I could only buy this from Costco if I got it shipped to me.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
This was the totality of the outdoor section: two types of lawn chairs.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This wasn’t surprising to me, since most people don’t have lawns to sit on.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
However, this Costco offered Jets and Giants merch, which the Long Island one did not.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
There were hats, blankets, and lawn chairs.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
There was no plant section \u2014 just a small display of pre-made bouquets. It makes sense since most people in NYC don’t have space to garden.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Costco had a good selection of flowers.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
Both locations had Halloween decorations.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
There were both Disney and Charlie Brown options.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
But there were some slight differences. This Mickey-shaped pumpkin was only for sale in NYC.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This cost $79.99.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
I found the Harlem costume selection to be similarly lacking.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Again, it was mostly generic costumes.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
Christmas items were out here, too.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
But there was a smaller amount of items to choose from.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
The same ornaments I bought in Westbury were here, too \u2014 and for the same price.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Squishmallows are popular everywhere.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
There was also a separate produce room.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
There was a bin filled with crushed cardboard in the center.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
And a room for dairy, milk, and eggs.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This wasn’t as crowded at the NYC Costco.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
The meat and bakery sections were almost identical. I even spotted the “cake box” that Costco fans love.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The bakery section at the NYC Costco had stacks of baked goods.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
This location had self-checkout, which I hadn’t noticed at the Long Island store.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Only people with a few items could use self-checkout.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
Overall, this store was smaller and lacked some items I’d seen in the suburbs, like big furniture, outdoor items, books, and plants. It makes sense that an urban store wouldn’t stock most of these.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The exterior of the NYC Costco.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
I might keep my Costco membership so I can get some items shipped, but buying in bulk seems difficult for anyone living in New York City.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This box would take up almost half of a shelf in my kitchen.<\/p>\n
Gabbi Shaw\/Business Insider <\/p>\n
Editor’s note: A version of this story was published in October 2024 and was updated in October 2025.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"2025-10-22T14:40:40Z Share Facebook Email X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky WhatsApp Copy link lighning bolt icon An icon in the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16448,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[11718,262,11713,11720,11723,11717,11716,11719,776,75,84,83,11715,9,24,63,7300,11721,11714,11722],"class_list":["post-16447","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-manhattan","tag-cfo-gary-millerchip","tag-city","tag-costco","tag-difference","tag-half","tag-june","tag-last-month","tag-location","tag-long-island","tag-manhattan","tag-manhattan-headlines","tag-manhattan-news","tag-new-member","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc","tag-photos","tag-similarities","tag-suburb","tag-wholesaler"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16447","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16447"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16447\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16448"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16447"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16447"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16447"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}