Costco Is Opening New Stores in 2024. Here's What You Should Do Next

If you need more $4.99 rotisserie chickens or 72-pound Parmigiano Reggiano cheese wheels in your life, it helps to live near a Costco. But what if you don't have the convenience of a nearby warehouse? Fortunately, Costco plans to add four new locations in the U.S. through the end of 2024.

Where are the new Costco locations?

As of August 2024, Costco had 884 locations worldwide, with 611 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and another 108 in Canada. The warehouse giant plans to add the following new warehouses in the U.S. through the end of the year:

• Bend, Oregon (October 2024)

• Napa, California (October 2024)

• Pleasanton, California (October 2024)

• Madison, Alabama (November 2024)

In August 2024, Costco opened the following new U.S. locations:

• Covington, Louisiana

• Ridgefield, Washington

• Tomball, Texas

Costco has also recently opened or will soon open new warehouses in South Korea, Japan, Spain, and Mexico.

What to know about shopping at Costco

If you're a Costco novice, you need to know a few facts before you dash over to your nearest warehouse club:

• You'll need to pay for a membership. Costco raised the price of an annual membership on Sept. 1, 2024, to $65 for Gold Star and Business memberships and $130 for Executive memberships.

• Don't count on sharing your membership card. Costco is cracking down on membership sharing by installing card scanners at each entrance. You're allowed to bring up to two guests, but only members can make purchases.

• You can't pay with just any credit card. Costco only accepts Visa credit cards for payment, though you can also pay with most PIN-based ATM and debit cards, cash, check, or Costco Shop Cards (Costco's version of its own gift card).

• You don't need a membership for some purchases. You can use Costco without a membership if you're getting a prescription filled at the pharmacy, getting an eye exam, or buying booze in several states. However, most purchases require a membership.

Should you rush to join Costco?

If you're on the fence about whether to join Costco, consider these questions before you shell out for a membership:

• Is the location close enough that you'd actually shop there? If you'd spend an hour driving each way to shop at Costco, make sure the savings are enough to offset the time and transportation costs.

• Will you save money buying in bulk? If you live alone or have limited storage space, buying giant quantities from Costco or another warehouse club may not be worth it.

• Are you prone to impulse buying? You can buy everything from groceries to clothing, saunas, remote-controlled toilets, and more at your local Costco. If you tend to make impulse purchases, think twice before becoming a Costco member.

Should you decide to join Costco, you can bolster your savings with a credit card (but remember, only Visa credit cards are accepted). Take a look at our list of the best credit cards for Costco to earn cash back on Costco and Costco.com purchases.

Top credit card to use at Costco (and everywhere else!)

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Costco Is Opening New Stores in 2024. Here's What You Should Do Next was originally published by The Motley Fool