They are not part of the same “business” but I feel confident that there are some arrangement perhaps buying arrangements which Costco may facilitate without either party breaking the law. Clearly, it was to Costco’s advantage to include a space for the discount liquor stores within the buildings with adjacent stores I mentioned. Legal ownership affiliation is only one kind of relationship, after all.
Probably. However, the main advantage to having access to a Costco that sells liquor in-warehouse is that you can buy Kirkland brand liquor, many of which offer incredible value for the price. You can’t get Kirkland brand products in warehouse-adjacent stores. In-warehouse prices on name brands are also much better than at warehouse-adjacent stores in my experience, although that may just be because the one in Yonkers isn’t that great. Their prices aren’t really any better than Stew Leonard’s just up the hill, and their selection sucks.
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But if you want Kirkland branded liquor that doesn’t help. Other liquor is available everywhere else.
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We buy the Kirkland wines in Ohio - they are a really good deal and there is a sharp discount if you buy quantity. No I dont believe that store sells any hard liquor, however. but like I said, our Manhattan friend does travel the subway to buy large bottles of jack daniels at our Costco adjacent store, so it must be worth it. I do wonder whether some of the winemakers featured in that same store might not be private-labelling for Kirkland as well. And yeah @biondanonima that Yonkers store was not exciting.
Where I am (WA), Costco’s booze prices in general aren’t that great, and the Kirkland-branded bottles aren’t incredible values. That said, the value I see in the Kirkland booze is that it’s made by makers whose own labels cost more.
Kirkland’s Tequilas are pretty nice. I’m still working on humongous bottles of each, anejo and blanco, from 10 years ago, purchased in California (they were a gift). I don’t drink them, but use them in cooking, infusions and cocktails for the fam.
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Nielsen-Massey vanilla bean paste. 10 oz container for $19.99. Yes please!
Have you used this? How long is it potent and does it need to be refrigerated? My concern is sinking that much money into a large container only to have it no longer flavorful well before I get around to that much baking. My homemade vanilla bean/vodka liquid seems to keep well for a couple of years, capped with the bean in the small jar.
Ah, the eternal Costco dilemma…
I haven’t used it yet but with a 4 ounce jar going for the same price online I decided to go for it. Might do some snow day baking today to try it out or will over spring break. Here’s to 8 inches of fresh not fluffy snow!
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TJs has a small jar for around 5 bucks I think – works out to 25 for 10z vs 20, but if you don’t need that much, it’s a better deal.
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After reading a lot of pros and cons about them, I picked up a package of the new-style muffins at Costco today in the blueberries and cream flavor. They are decidedly meh. I appreciate the packaging, because there’s no way two of us could have eaten a dozen of the huge ones but we can manage eight over the course of a week. These muffins, though, were much drier and cakier than the old recipe. We didn’t buy them before because there were too many, and we probably won’t buy them now because we don’t like them as much.
Yay - Kirkland brand low sodium bacon. Says low sodium and no sugar, but I like it better than the regular, 3 pack, freezes well.
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In years past, I used to buy the assortment packs of Costco muffins to take to deer camp. I bought them not because they were good (oily, sweet and spongy should be on the label), but because they stayed exactly the same for up to a week.
Are you telling us they’ve changed?
While on the subject of Costco, my local store’s been remodeling it’s food court, which has been closed for a month, and will be for another month. I joked to a cashier yesterday that this has helped my waist size. She and the bagger both just smiled and nodded.
Another thread about to be born…
When the cashier asked if you want something from the food court at check out I always say YES I want something…but I’m not ordering, and smile.
I haven’t ordered a Costco hot dog for 2 years. It might be time.
I would be 30 pounds heavier if my Costco checkers solicited me to order.
I still haven’t forgiven them axing the Polish dog…
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“I still haven’t forgiven them axing the Polish dog…“
I agree completely. What is it that made the polish dog 10X better than the regular hot dog?!
It had more snap and flavor, IMO. I also preferred it because it was thicker…
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When I lived in Ohio, they would occasionally have Usinger’s Brats - which is my family’s favorite Brat (we order from Usinger’s a few times a year ever since we moved away from WI . . . in the 80’s). They never sold them in the store, so it was always strange that they would occasionally have them in the food court.
And the little tubs of sauerkraut.
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