I shopped at a regular Costco and a Costco Business Center and found two completely different stores targeting different customers

Brittany ChangSep 4, 2022, 19:29 IST

Brittany Chang/Insider

I visited a Costco and a Costco Business Center and had massively different shopping experiences.
There are only 23 Costco Business Centers — which cater to small business owners — across the US.

I visited one of the 23 elusive Costco Business Centers in the US and was confronted with a shopping experience that felt wildly different from a traditional Costco.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Like many people across the US, I have nostalgic childhood memories of picking at Costco's free samples, riding in the oversized shopping carts, and eating a chicken bake for dinner after a long day of running errands with my parents.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Like many people across the US, I have nostalgic childhood memories of picking at Costco's free samples, riding in the oversized shopping carts, and eating a chicken bake for dinner after a long day of running errands with my parents.

But at the Costco Business Center in Hackensack, New Jersey — the only location of its kind in the Northeast — I didn't get my beloved free samples or end-of-errand food court treat.

Brittany Chang/Insider

But at the Costco Business Center in Hackensack, New Jersey — the only location of its kind in the Northeast — I didn't get my beloved free samples or end-of-errand food court treat.

Instead, I was greeted with mountains of bulk meat, tubs of condiments, and enough variety snack boxes to feed every office in New York's Financial District.

Brittany Chang/Insider

You may be thinking, "What's the difference? My normal Costco warehouse also has these same bulk products."

Brittany Chang/Insider

And you would be right. Costco is known as a wholesaler after all.

Costco frozen avocadosBeatrice Nolan / Insider

But after visiting the two types of stores, I learned pretty quickly that the Costco Business Center is essentially a Costco turned up to 11 with more industrial products.

Brittany Chang/Insider

But after visiting the two types of stores, I learned pretty quickly that the Costco Business Center is essentially a Costco turned up to 11 with more industrial products.

At the Business Center, many everyday products are sold in quantities so large and heavy, that shoppers have to use a platform cart instead of a traditional shopping cart.

Brittany Chang/Insider

At the Business Center, many everyday products are sold in quantities so large and heavy, that shoppers have to use a platform cart instead of a traditional shopping cart.

And I definitely didn't see that when I visited the closest Costco to my apartment in Brooklyn, New York shortly after stopping by the New Jersey Business Center.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Over 70% of the products sold at Costco Business Centers are different from what's available in the brand's average stores, according to the wholesale giant.

Brittany Chang/Insider

The company says its Business Centers — accessible to all members — are "not just for businesses" …

Brittany Chang/Insider

… but within the first few minutes of stepping inside the New Jersey store, it was obvious the store caters to business owners.

Brittany Chang/Insider

To compare, the traditional Costco warehouse in Brooklyn had plenty of home goods and personal items …

Brittany Chang/Insider

… whether it be televisions, kitchen gadgets, tech, gift cards, or supplements.

Brittany Chang/Insider

When I go to Costco, I'm used to seeing cookware sets, a variety of bath and beauty products, and cases of locked jewelry.

Brittany Chang/Insider

But when I visited the Costco Business Center, I couldn't find most — or really any — of these items.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Until I visited this Business Center, I had never seen a Costco that sold receipt rolls, cleaning products labeled for janitorial use …

Brittany Chang/Insider

… and snacks for "vending and food service."

Brittany Chang/Insider

But here, they seemed commonplace among the aisles of food service products, pounds of frozen foods, and large boxes filled with bulk disposable food containers.

Brittany Chang/Insider

And if you're as big of a fan of Costco's free sample stands and churros as I am, you may be left disappointed during your first Costco Business Center visit.

Brittany Chang/Insider

There was no food court, pharmacy, photo center, or bakery at this New Jersey Business Center location.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Nor did I find any rows of clothes, home goods, books, or children's toys.

Brittany Chang/Insider

And most importantly: no rotisserie chicken or prepared foods.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Instead, all of these traditionally beloved sections and products were replaced with endless rows of snacks and beverages in large cardboard boxes.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Instead of piles of pants and sweaters, there were packs of candies and salty snacks that could take a family weeks to finish.

Brittany Chang/Insider

And say goodbye to the rows of childrens' toys and books. Here, you'll find pallets topped with boxes of sodas, energy drinks, and juices instead.

Brittany Chang/Insider

This switch from clothes and toys to large packages of snacks and drinks is perfect for shoppers looking to restock their vending machines …

Brittany Chang/Insider

… but maybe not for someone who's just looking to buy a few groceries and clothes.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Granted, there were still some consistencies across the inventory.

Brittany Chang/Insider

When I walked around the New Jersey location, I found plenty of food and household items that were also available at the regular Costco in Brooklyn.

Brittany Chang/Insider

And many of these items were already part of my weekly or monthly shopping list.

Brittany Chang/Insider

But if you're shopping for a small household, purchasing your weekly groceries at a Costco Business Center may be difficult: The items may be similar but the quantity may likely be vastly different.

Brittany Chang/Insider

But if you're shopping for a small household, purchasing your weekly groceries at a Costco Business Center may be difficult: The items may be similar but the quantity may likely be vastly different.

The Business Center is all about mega-bulk products.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Of course, wholesale-level quantities still reign supreme at an everyday Costco warehouse.

Brittany Chang/Insider

After all, two-dozen eggs is standard at a traditional Costco.

Brittany Chang/Insider

But 24 eggs is meager compared to the sizes available at the New Jersey location.

Brittany Chang/Insider

The Business Center brings bulk to the extreme with packages of five-dozen eggs …

Brittany Chang/Insider

… large buckets of soy sauce …

Brittany Chang/Insider

… and 50-pound bag of onions, to name a few examples.

Brittany Chang/Insider

These food items are staples in my kitchen, but 60 eggs would be an unreasonable purchase for two people who live in a New York City apartment where ample fridge space is a rare commodity.

Brittany Chang/Insider

These food items are staples in my kitchen, but 60 eggs would be an unreasonable purchase for two people who live in a New York City apartment where ample fridge space is a rare commodity.

The traditional Costco Warehouse also sold Hellmann's beloved mayonnaise in 60-fluid-ounce jars …

Brittany Chang/Insider

… and twin packs of 40-ounce Sweet Baby Ray's.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Don't get me wrong: These are still pretty large jars of mayo and barbecue sauce.

Brittany Chang/Insider

But it's nowhere near as unmanageable as Costco Business Centers' gallon container of mayonnaise …

Brittany Chang/Insider

… and 10-pound jugs of Sweet Baby Ray's, which should be more than enough to satisfy even Mark Zuckerberg's cravings.

Brittany Chang/Insider

These glaring differences in products seemed to result in a difference in shoppers.

Brittany Chang/Insider

When I visited the Costco warehouse in Brooklyn, I saw a loud sea of parents and children riling through the clothes, toys, and snacks.

Brittany Chang/Insider

It was so crowded, I found myself struggling to weave between shopping carts and idle consumers.

Brittany Chang/Insider

In comparison, the Costco Business Center felt like a meditative bliss.

Brittany Chang/Insider

There were no crowds and I often found myself alone in the large aisles.

Brittany Chang/Insider

I also didn't see a single child during my one-and-a-half hours of roaming around the store, an impossible sight at any regular Costco.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Instead, most shoppers either came by themselves or with one other person.

Brittany Chang/Insider

And judging by their shopping carts, it looked like many of them were looking to restock a professional kitchen, snack counter, or vending machine.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Either that or this shopper just really wanted 96 boxes of Sour Patch Kids.

Brittany Chang/Insider

While both locations had items like these large yellow and black storage bins …

Brittany Chang/Insider

… 12-pack beef jerky snack packs …

Brittany Chang/Insider

… food service-sized containers of foil …

Brittany Chang/Insider

… and large bags of rice and dried beans.

Brittany Chang/Insider

And shockingly, five-pound bags of shredded cheeses were accessible at both locations as well.

Brittany Chang/Insider

spotting these consistencies felt more like a difficult treasure hunt than an easy task.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Based on my experience, I wouldn't suggest visiting your nearest Costco Business Center if you're looking for piles of clothes, fresh baked treats, and rows of discounted high-definition television screens.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Based on my experience, I wouldn't suggest visiting your nearest Costco Business Center if you're looking for piles of clothes, fresh baked treats, and rows of discounted high-definition television screens.

You'll be greeted with 45-packs of Cheez-Its and 40-pound tubs of tahini instead.

Brittany Chang/Insider

If you work in a professional kitchen, operate a snack counter, have vending machines to refill, or plan on cooking for a fairly large gathering, the Business Center may be a great way to save money amid a time of rising food prices.

Brittany Chang/Insider

If you work in a professional kitchen, operate a snack counter, have vending machines to refill, or plan on cooking for a fairly large gathering, the Business Center may be a great way to save money amid a time of rising food prices.

But if you're just shopping for yourself or a small family, save your money and continue going to a regular Costco.

Brittany Chang/Insider

You're much more likely to find reasonably sized groceries and home goods there.

Brittany Chang/Insider

Traditional Costcos are just more convenient for everyday shoppers looking to pick up groceries, clothes, and electronics.

Brittany Chang/Insider

And at least you can treat yourself to a Churro after.

Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

For those reasons, I probably won't go back to a Costco Business Center again. And that's okay: The store wasn't designed for consumers like me.

Brittany Chang/Insider

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I shopped at a regular Costco and a Costco Business Center and found two completely different stores targeting different customers

I visited one of the 23 elusive Costco Business Centers in the US and was confronted with a shopping experience that felt wildly different from a traditional Costco.

Like many people across the US, I have nostalgic childhood memories of picking at Costco's free samples, riding in the oversized shopping carts, and eating a chicken bake for dinner after a long day of running errands with my parents.

But at the Costco Business Center in Hackensack, New Jersey — the only location of its kind in the Northeast — I didn't get my beloved free samples or end-of-errand food court treat.

Instead, I was greeted with mountains of bulk meat, tubs of condiments, and enough variety snack boxes to feed every office in New York's Financial District.

You may be thinking, "What's the difference? My normal Costco warehouse also has these same bulk products."

And you would be right. Costco is known as a wholesaler after all.

But after visiting the two types of stores, I learned pretty quickly that the Costco Business Center is essentially a Costco turned up to 11 with more industrial products.

At the Business Center, many everyday products are sold in quantities so large and heavy, that shoppers have to use a platform cart instead of a traditional shopping cart.

And I definitely didn't see that when I visited the closest Costco to my apartment in Brooklyn, New York shortly after stopping by the New Jersey Business Center.

Over 70% of the products sold at Costco Business Centers are different from what's available in the brand's average stores, according to the wholesale giant.

The company says its Business Centers — accessible to all members — are "not just for businesses" …

… but within the first few minutes of stepping inside the New Jersey store, it was obvious the store caters to business owners.

To compare, the traditional Costco warehouse in Brooklyn had plenty of home goods and personal items …

… whether it be televisions, kitchen gadgets, tech, gift cards, or supplements.

When I go to Costco, I'm used to seeing cookware sets, a variety of bath and beauty products, and cases of locked jewelry.

But when I visited the Costco Business Center, I couldn't find most — or really any — of these items.

Until I visited this Business Center, I had never seen a Costco that sold receipt rolls, cleaning products labeled for janitorial use …

… and snacks for "vending and food service."

But here, they seemed commonplace among the aisles of food service products, pounds of frozen foods, and large boxes filled with bulk disposable food containers.

And if you're as big of a fan of Costco's free sample stands and churros as I am, you may be left disappointed during your first Costco Business Center visit.

There was no food court, pharmacy, photo center, or bakery at this New Jersey Business Center location.

Nor did I find any rows of clothes, home goods, books, or children's toys.

And most importantly: no rotisserie chicken or prepared foods.

Instead, all of these traditionally beloved sections and products were replaced with endless rows of snacks and beverages in large cardboard boxes.

Instead of piles of pants and sweaters, there were packs of candies and salty snacks that could take a family weeks to finish.

And say goodbye to the rows of childrens' toys and books. Here, you'll find pallets topped with boxes of sodas, energy drinks, and juices instead.

This switch from clothes and toys to large packages of snacks and drinks is perfect for shoppers looking to restock their vending machines …

… but maybe not for someone who's just looking to buy a few groceries and clothes.

Granted, there were still some consistencies across the inventory.

When I walked around the New Jersey location, I found plenty of food and household items that were also available at the regular Costco in Brooklyn.

And many of these items were already part of my weekly or monthly shopping list.

But if you're shopping for a small household, purchasing your weekly groceries at a Costco Business Center may be difficult: The items may be similar but the quantity may likely be vastly different.

The Business Center is all about mega-bulk products.

Of course, wholesale-level quantities still reign supreme at an everyday Costco warehouse.

After all, two-dozen eggs is standard at a traditional Costco.

But 24 eggs is meager compared to the sizes available at the New Jersey location.

The Business Center brings bulk to the extreme with packages of five-dozen eggs …

… large buckets of soy sauce …

… and 50-pound bag of onions, to name a few examples.

These food items are staples in my kitchen, but 60 eggs would be an unreasonable purchase for two people who live in a New York City apartment where ample fridge space is a rare commodity.

The traditional Costco Warehouse also sold Hellmann's beloved mayonnaise in 60-fluid-ounce jars …

… and twin packs of 40-ounce Sweet Baby Ray's.

Don't get me wrong: These are still pretty large jars of mayo and barbecue sauce.

But it's nowhere near as unmanageable as Costco Business Centers' gallon container of mayonnaise …

… and 10-pound jugs of Sweet Baby Ray's, which should be more than enough to satisfy even Mark Zuckerberg's cravings.

These glaring differences in products seemed to result in a difference in shoppers.

When I visited the Costco warehouse in Brooklyn, I saw a loud sea of parents and children riling through the clothes, toys, and snacks.

It was so crowded, I found myself struggling to weave between shopping carts and idle consumers.

In comparison, the Costco Business Center felt like a meditative bliss.

There were no crowds and I often found myself alone in the large aisles.

I also didn't see a single child during my one-and-a-half hours of roaming around the store, an impossible sight at any regular Costco.

Instead, most shoppers either came by themselves or with one other person.

And judging by their shopping carts, it looked like many of them were looking to restock a professional kitchen, snack counter, or vending machine.

Either that or this shopper just really wanted 96 boxes of Sour Patch Kids.

While both locations had items like these large yellow and black storage bins …

… 12-pack beef jerky snack packs …

… food service-sized containers of foil …

… and large bags of rice and dried beans.

And shockingly, five-pound bags of shredded cheeses were accessible at both locations as well.

spotting these consistencies felt more like a difficult treasure hunt than an easy task.

Based on my experience, I wouldn't suggest visiting your nearest Costco Business Center if you're looking for piles of clothes, fresh baked treats, and rows of discounted high-definition television screens.

You'll be greeted with 45-packs of Cheez-Its and 40-pound tubs of tahini instead.

If you work in a professional kitchen, operate a snack counter, have vending machines to refill, or plan on cooking for a fairly large gathering, the Business Center may be a great way to save money amid a time of rising food prices.

But if you're just shopping for yourself or a small family, save your money and continue going to a regular Costco.

You're much more likely to find reasonably sized groceries and home goods there.

Traditional Costcos are just more convenient for everyday shoppers looking to pick up groceries, clothes, and electronics.

And at least you can treat yourself to a Churro after.

For those reasons, I probably won't go back to a Costco Business Center again. And that's okay: The store wasn't designed for consumers like me.