CostcoLeaks: Transition from Mocha Freeze to Cold Brew Mocha

Costco Some Locations
Store Opening: n/a

Below is a leaked Costco correspondence that details the transition from the $1.45 Mocha Freeze to the $2.99 Cold Brew Mocha Freeze. Some Costco food courts had this item as long as 5 months ago, others are just recently adding it to their menu. My source had the following to say about the Cold Brew Mocha Freeze, "they [Costco] don't rely on sugar for the goodness, [but] more on the cold brew flavor, which gets me hard."

Thanks to the anonymous tipster for providing this highly-sensitive internal memo. 

Largest Costco in World = Salt Lake City

Costco Salt Lake City

Store Opening: 12/02/1995
Store Re-opening + 70,000 Sq. Ft. Costco Business Center: 11/12/2015

Costco general manager Craig Jamieson said, "We decided to add a business center and combined it with a . . . warehouse for a hybrid. Currently, we're the largest Costco on the planet." Mr. Jamieson sounds pretty laid-back for someone who is responsible for the largest Costco in the world. If you are curious what a Costco Business Center has to offer you can check out one of my older posts from November 11, 2011 where I feature the San Diego Costco Business Center, which has since closed.

Site of new addition just north of original Costco Wholesale

The Costco is so large that they actually provide maps to help members navigate the warehouse. (Please reach out to me if you have a map!) I am lucky to call the Salt Lake City warehouse my home Costco.

Aerial View

Food Court Now Accepting American Express and Debit Cards!

Costco Seattle

Store Opening: 09/15/1983

The first Costco warehouse opened its doors on September 15^th, 1983 in Seattle, Washington. From that day on the Seattle location has served as a hub for new ideas, including the first ever Costco food court. Over the past couple years this blog has chronicled some of the highs and lows at the Costco food court . . . today was one of the highs. 

It's official

Since 1983, every Costco food court around the world has inconveniently been a cash-only establishment. As can be seen in the photos below, some Costco locations have now implemented card-reading terminals to allow for quick and easy purchases using a debit card or an American Express credit card. It is expected that all Costco food courts in North America will have the card readers in the near future. Gone are the days when patrons were required to pay ATM fees to obtain their meals. The anonymous tipster who provided the pictures said that the decision to accept credit/debit cards was made at the corporate level in response to recently restored U.S./Cuba relations. 

Newly installed credit card terminal at Costco Seattle

Some Costco vets may be claiming “you could have easily bypassed the cash-only requirement by purchasing your food court items at regular checkout aisles as opposed to at the food court.” However, this bypass has its complications. First, you have to stand in a checkout line, which can take a VERY long time! Second, the pickup window usually takes just as long as the food court cash registers. And lastly, members do not have first hand knowledge of developments at the food court before making their selections. For example, a new cheese pizza just came out of the oven and looks extremely tasty, but you bought a hot dog. Or you purchased a slice of combo pizza, but it is going to take another 15 minutes to come out of the oven. Or you purchased a Mocha Freeze, but they are out of chocolate syrup.

Costco Canada

Costco Calgary

Store Opening: 10/31/1990

Unique food court items north of the border.

I was completely unaware that there was so much diversity at Costco food courts in North America. A Costco Connect follower sent these images while on a business trip in the Canadian province of Alberta. In addition to the classic hot dog/polish option, there are french fries (better known as freedom fries in the States), chicken strips and a meat sandwich. The Montreal smoked meat looks delicious.

Close-up of fries with poutine (brown gravy and cheese curds).

Notice the sturdy trays that they offer in Canada. Trays are a genius idea that U.S. Costcos should consider implementing. Currently, it is extremely difficult to carry a drink, polish dog, slice of pizza and very berry sundae back to your table and requires several more trips to fill your drink, get condiments on the polish dog, obtain a fork/knife for the pizza, and pick up napkins to remove the excess grease from the pizza. Trays would also prevent the pizza from hanging over the edges of the plate onto a counter where cash transactions take place. The tipster, who wishes to remain anonymous, said only this, "the fries + poutine was incredibly dank."

New Food Court Item!

Costco Aurora Village

Store Opening: 06/30/1994

New sandwich displayed on the unmistakeable Costco food court signage

Received some information about a new food court option from a loyal Costco Connection follower. Whether this sandwich is only available at the Aurora Village Costco (Seattle, WA) is still unknown. The tipster's only remark after this rare encounter…”surprisingly the bun didn’t get soggy.”

Still doesn't seem right that the Costco food court changed to Pepsi products

Close-up of beef brisket, BBQ sauce, and cole slaw

 

Insert Carl's Jr. slogan

Nutella Novelty

Costco Orem

Store Opening: 11/23/1999

5 Kilo tub of nutella

Aggressive price point

One of the best-selling novelty items I have ever seen at Costco. Most likely attributable to the surrounding demographic of Provo/Orem, Utah (college town).

Costco Business Center

Costco San Diego
Store Opening: 9/15/2010

Entrance

Friday Afternoon

The Costco Business Center offered a unique experience. A very different selection of items and by far the emptiest Costco location I have ever been to. 

Vast Cooking Section

 

Extensive Meat Selection

Again, very uncharacteristic for a Friday afternoon.