Non-Members Must Say Goodbye to The Costco Food Court Starting This April

By Kara | Staff Writer

Mar 28, 2024 @ 4:50 PM MDT

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The Costco food court rules are changing. 😢 Here’s the scoop!

Man ordering at the Costco Food Court

The Costco food court can be a lifesaver for those on a tight budget! The popular warehouse club offers tons of filling items for under $4, and the Hip team always talks about how much we appreciate these cheap eats.

You can snag snacks from the food court at many locations, even without a membership. At least, that’s how it used to be.

Please don’t shoot the messenger, but some bad news broke this morning that we think you might want to know.

Costco CFO, Richard Galanti, stated in an interview that starting April 8th, consumers will need a Costco membership to buy food at any Costco with an outdoor food court (as the indoor ones already check your ID). There are already signs popping up at various Costco locations, including this one that was spotted in Orlando and shared on Reddit:

Costco Food Court Sign stating non-members can no longer eat there — Credit: GoldAssociation7261

Sadly, if you want that $1.50 hot dog and soda onlinebo or the $1.99 giant slice of pizza, you’ll have to fork over cash for a Costco membership. 💵

How much does a Costco membership cost?

There are two personal membership options available.

The standard membership is called the Gold Star Membership, and it costs $60 annually. With this membership, you can shop online or in-store at any Costco and have access to the pharmacy, Costco Travel counter, food court, gasoline, and more.

You can also opt for the Executive Membership, which costs $120 annually. This membership onlinees with all the benefits of a Gold Star Membership, plus it gets you an annual 2% reward up to $1,000 (on applicable purchases). You’ll also score benefits and discounts when you use any of Costco’s services.

Costco offers some special promotions on memberships, too. These are usually in the form of a $20 – $40 Shop Card with the purchase of a new membership. Students, teachers, medical professionals, first responders, government employees, and military members may qualify for these promos. If that’s you, scroll to the bottom of Costco’s membership page for instructions on verifying your status and claiming the offer!

How do you feel about the changes onlineing to the Costco food court?

Are you already a member? Check out these recent Costco deals!

About the writer:

Kara is a writer and photographer from the Midwest. Her creative work has appeared in various publications over the past decade. With a background in finance, she loves to be money-savvy.