The Costco Food Court is Changing and Shoppers Have Questions

Credit: Liv Averett / Costco

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Costco Is Making a Food Court Change That Feels… Personal

Change. It’s inevitable. And a big change is coming to the Costco food court—not necessarily for the better. 

Over the holiday break, I went home to Florida and partook in a sacred late December family tradition: going to Costco with my mom. My mom is a card-carrying Costco member; I, rent-burdened in Los Angeles and single, am not. She is my golden ticket into that glorious warehouse, and every time we go, I scurry over to the food court to pay for a 85-cent large Coca-Cola as she checks out, because that, my friends, is the height of luxury. 

Unfortunately, that tradition is coming to an end. Costco is rolling out membership-verification technology at its food courts that will require customers to show a valid membership card before ordering food—something select locations have already started testing and that could become more widespread in 2026.

So… I have to swipe my membership card before buying a hot dog now?

Maybe not now—it’s unclear how fast this policy is going to roll out and whether all locations are following it. Some locations already have scanners in place; others don’t yet. Even where scanners exist, how strictly they’re being used seems to vary by location.

Is this a good business decision?

I’m so glad you asked me, Ariana Losch, business expert. I don’t know! Costco claims this will encourage more people to get memberships while simultaneously making peak shopping times less crowded. I don’t fully understand that strategy myself; I am not buying a Costco membership for a $1.50 hot dog (no matter how good the hot dog is). Now I just won’t buy the hot dog when I’m tagging along with my fam to Costco. Don’t you want my money, Costco?! Feels like a lose-lose situation here. But what do I know? I’m just an English major. 

Are we mad at Costco now? 

I have a hard time staying mad at Costco. They’re suing the United States Federal Government over tariffs, and that’s exactly the kind of change I want to see in the world. I can let this slide…for now. If it really does save them money and prevent prices in the food court from going up, good for them. If not, I trust they will roll this back in a reasonable time frame. And rarely do I trust a corporation to do anything other than exploit me for my last dime. That’s how much I appreciate Costco. I won’t speak for you, though. 

Is Costco making a mistake by limiting food court access to members only?