Costco recently launched exclusive store hours for executive members.I upgraded my membership to shop during the executive member hours and loved how empty it was.When I visited, there were no lines to enter the store, check out, or buy food at the food court.
As a frequent visitor of Manhattan's only Costco location, I usually wait in a long line to get into the store first thing in the morning, and then stand in another long line at checkout.
When I heard that Costco was reinstituting shopping hours exclusively for executive members as of June 30, I was eager to see if it would result in a less crowded experience. I paid an extra $65 to upgrade my membership from the Gold Star level, and I'm pleased to report that it was absolutely worth it.
Here's what it's like to shop during Costco's new executive member hours.
The only Costco store in Manhattan is located inside East River Plaza, a shopping complex in East Harlem.
East River Plaza.
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Other Costco stores in the New York City area are located in Brooklyn and Queens.
I arrived about 10 minutes before 9 a.m., when the store would open for executive members only.
Costco in New York City.
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Costco's revamped executive membership, which costs $130 a year, includes an exclusive hour of shopping on weekday mornings. The stores open at 9 a.m. on weekdays and Sundays for executive members and 10 a.m. for Gold Star and business members.
The parking garage featured lots of empty spots since it was so early — a surprising perk.
Empty parking spaces at Costco.
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I normally have to circle the garage a few times to find parking, but arriving an hour earlier than the general public meant that there were plenty of open spots.
At 8:56 a.m., a few other executive members began to line up by the doors, but it was nothing compared to the line that usually snakes outside the store.
Costco at 8:56 a.m.
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As we stood at the entrance, we joked about pushing past each other to get inside first. Clearly, there was no need to jostle for a better spot in line.
For context, this is what the line looked like before opening when I visited the previous month.
Costco in Manhattan.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
When I shopped at Costco in June, I encountered the usual long line outside the store.
When the doors opened at 9 a.m., I noticed new signage indicating executive members' extended shopping hours.
Costco's new hours.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
Costco executive members get an extra hour of shopping in the morning on weekdays and Sundays, and an extra half hour on Saturdays.
A sign at the card scanning kiosk also advertised the new benefits that come with an executive membership.
A sign advertising the new perks of Costco's executive membership.
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In addition to extra shopping hours, Costco's executive membership includes a $10 monthly credit on orders of $150 or more when ordered via Instacart or Costco's same-day delivery service and an annual 2% reward of up to $1,250 on purchases.
I scanned my shiny new executive membership card for the first time and headed inside.
Scanning my Costco executive membership card.
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When the line outside the store gets extra long, I've seen Costco employees scan people's membership cards while they wait to allow everyone to enter the store faster. With a smaller crowd, there was no need, so I scanned my card myself.
I've never heard Costco so quiet.
Aisles at Costco.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
The aisles were wide open without the usual crowds, and it felt much quieter without the usual sounds of rattling carts and conversation among shoppers and employees.
This earlier hour of store access also seemed well-suited for those who need a more sensory-friendly shopping experience.
The rotisserie chickens weren't ready yet first thing in the morning — one disadvantage of arriving so early.
However, I enjoyed not having to climb over people and squeeze past carts to reach a carton of eggs in the refrigerated section.
Eggs at Costco.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
Because the refrigerated section is a smaller room, I've found it can take some extra maneuvering to reach the items inside when the store gets busy.
The checkout aisles were emptier than I've ever seen them.
No checkout lines.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
Only one or two checkout aisles were open for the early hour of shopping, and self-checkout was closed, but I didn't have to wait at all before loading my items on the conveyor belt.
There were no lines at the food court either, another rare sight.
The Costco food court.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
At the Manhattan location where I usually shop, the food court is almost always full of customers waiting for their orders. If I'd wanted to start my day with a $2.99 cold brew mocha freeze or $2.99 smoothie, it would have been a quick pitstop.
I completed my Costco grocery run just after 10 a.m., when the store opened to all other members.
Costco at 10:03 a.m.
Talia Lakritz/Business Insider
I finished my grocery shopping before the opening rush with the added perks of more plentiful parking, less crowded aisles, and shorter checkout lines — all before the store even opened to other members. To me, that's worth the extra $65 per year.
