Costco wholesale shopping club

Costco wholesale shopping club. Photo by Kim’s Cravings.

Costco is planning to build one of their wholesale warehouse stores on the Central Expressway service road north of Forest Lane, to the delight of many who now drive way north to Park and the Tollway or Parker and Central to get their Costco fix. Though this current site isn’t exactly in Lake Highlands (read the details in Keri Mitchell’s Friday post), it’s close enough to be added to our weekly errand list.

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If you’re among the uninitiated, you may wonder why the excitement. Like its rival Sam’s Club, Costco charges a membership fee, which it claims to make up in savings (Costco’s fee is $55 vs. Sam’s of $45). Also like Sam’s, many items are sold in bulk sizes. Diehard shoppers say Costco is more upscale (I found trendy Hunter rain boots there before Christmas for $80 – a deal considering they were selling at NorthPark for $150).

Costco’s store won’t be ready for months, assuming the city approves it. In the meantime, I’ve found some blogs to tell us the best (and worst) things to buy at Costco.

Kim of Kim’s Cravings loves the organic apple chips (14 oz. for $6.99), the raw almonds (3 lb. bag for $16.89) and the gluten free almond flour (3 lbs. for $22.99). She found 3 lbs. of bananas for $1.99 (whaaat?) and Annie’s organic fruit snacks for (36 for $11.99). The Costco brand is “Kirkland’s,” but they carry Cholula hot sauce, Nuttzo organic peanut butter and Morey’s seafood, among many other brands.

Rebecca Lieb of Wise Bread says you should think outside the box (superstore).

Luxury kitchen appliances are available at a deep discount at Costco, she says, along with Pyrex storage sets, toilet paper and printer ink cartridges. Even gym memberships to places like 24-Hour Fitness are discounted to $25 per month. Rebecca buys food at Costco, too, including rotisserie chickens (“out of this world!” she says, and she has some great recipes on ways to use a rotisserie chicken) and even their on-site lunch (less than $5 and effective at keeping you from over-buying).

Charlene of My Frugal Adventures says don’t skip the spice aisle at Costco. The giant jar will be cheaper than the grocer’s small size, and “the flavor difference is amazing” with Costco’s vanilla. Extra virgin olive oil is an excellent price, but the coconut oil comes in such a big tub it won’t fit in her pantry – skip it.

Charlene likes the organic cleaning products and says Costco’s maple syrup is the cheapest anywhere. Organic fruit for smoothies is high on her list, as is Kirkland Margarita Mix (no tequila needed, she says, just add ice.)

Keri Mitchell wasn’t able to get a projected opening date from the Costco folks, but maybe we’ll hear more when they go before the City Plan Commission Feb. 9.

Veggie patty. Photo by Kim's Cravings.

Veggie patty. Photo by Kim’s Cravings.

Medjool dates. Photo by Kim's Cravings.

Medjool dates. Photo by Kim’s Cravings.

Dole bananas. Photo by Kim's Cravings.

Dole bananas. Photo by Kim’s Cravings.

Brussels sprouts. Photos by Kim's Cravings.

Brussels sprouts. Photos by Kim’s Cravings.

Morey's salmon. Photo by Kim's Cravings.

Morey’s salmon. Photo by Kim’s Cravings.

Hunter rain boots.

Hunter rain boots.