Yahoo Lifestyle "Elite Costcos" Are a Real Thing—Here's What You Need to Know
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
Part of the thrill of shopping at Costco is you might head into the big-box store for a grocery run, but come out with a home goods haul, too. Everything from citrus trees with lemons ready to pick and outdoor patio furniture sets are known to make cameos at Costco. Every now and then, you might even come across something like a pop-up greenhouse that makes you wonder if you should add some whimsy to your own outdoor space and start growing veggies all year round. And when it comes to garden sheds, their selection is basically unmatched.
Costco has more than 600 stores in the United States. But for those who love to shop at the big-box retailer for more than just groceries, here are the five best Costco destinations in the country for home decor, furniture, and outdoor living finds.
No. 1: Costco.com
OK, we know we're cheating a little bit with this one, but there's a good reason! One of Costco’s best-kept secrets is that inventory varies quite a bit by region. About 40 percent of the inventory at any given warehouse is sourced locally or regionally which explains why you might not be able to find some of the same viral Costco finds stocked at your local store.
Costco also has limited space in its warehouses and typically caps its inventory to 3,800 different items at a time, says David Schwarts, the coauthor of The Joy of Costco: A Treasure Hunt from A to Z recently told Delish.
That’s why the best place to find a wide variety of home goods and products is Costco.com. The online division of Costco sells everything from sectionals to large kitchen appliances, mattresses, and custom blinds and shades. Some of the most viral Costco items are online-only deals, too, like this barrel-shaped outdoor sauna.
No. 2: Dallas-Fort Worth Metro Area
For many, the thrill of going to Costco is finding new food products and hitting up the food court. While Laura Jayne Lamb, the creator behind @Costcohotfinds, shows off Costco's trending treats to her 3 million followers, a lot of her posts are dedicated to Costco home finds. These feed range from poufs and springtime rugs to some more unexpected discoveries like a $1,800 at-home entertaining gazebo, a citrus tree, and a travel-ready charcuterie tray with a lid. One of the most frequently asked questions she gets is “What’s your home store?” Many of her finds, she says, are from the Costco in Frisco, Texas, which opened in 2011.
But that’s not all: I reached out to the creators behind another wildly popular fan account called @Costco_doesitagain to find out where they shop. Their Costco content, which has amassed more than a million followers, is also captured in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. With finds like cloud couch dupes, a statement-making faux olive tree, and inflatable hot tubs, it’s safe to say that the Costcos in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex are elite when it comes to home and outdoor living inventory.
No. 3: Salt Lake City, Utah
Most Costco warehouses are just under 150,000 square feet. But the location at 300 West in Salt Lake City, Utah is the largest in the country, clocking in at 235,000 square feet.
With all that extra square footage, there’s plenty of space for home and outdoor goods like TVs, a greenhouse, outdoor solar lamps, teak chairs, and tropical plants for $25.
No. 4: Cumming, Georgia
FinanceBuzz surveyed over 6,000 shoppers to try to pinpoint the very best Costco in the country, using metrics like cleanliness, friendliness, what’s in stock, quality of samples, and parking. Overall, South Carolina stores earned the highest average rating, with Ohio and Tennessee ranking second and third, respectively.
But the top-rated Costco in the country is in Cumming, Georgia, according to the survey. According to reviewers who shop there, the store is well-stocked with huge lawn decorations for Christmas and Halloween, as well as kayaks, workout equipment, and more.
This store does tend to get busy at peak times, so it’s good to know the best (and worst) times to shop at Costco if you’re looking to peruse the store without a crowd.
No. 5: Torrance, California
A Reddit thread asked Costco shoppers about the best (and worst) warehouses they’ve visited. Some honorable mentions included the Kauai Costco that sells island treats like chocolate macadamia nuts and the Coralville, Iowa, Costco that has a giant indoor parking lot that makes it much more pleasant to load up trunks in inclement weather.
But when it comes to Costcos for home goods lovers, one post glowed about the Torrance, California, location: In addition to plenty of parking, a gas station, and even a car wash, the wine selection at this Costco is great, and shoppers consistently have a large selection of houseplants to choose from.
You Might Also Like
