Shopping at Costco can be a lot more fun than shopping at your typical grocery store.
It’s true that most supermarkets mix up their inventory during the year and add new products to their shelves regularly. But Costco takes that concept one step further.
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When new items hit the shelves at Costco, they’re often products you can only find at Costco, whether they’re of the food, clothing, or furniture variety.
Related: Costco quietly drops popular product, saddens fans
It’s also hard to beat the fact that Costco offers you free food at every turn if you shop at the right time.
You might snag the occasional free sample at a traditional supermarket. But at Costco, you could conceivably consume the equivalent of a full meal just by walking around the warehouse.
Even better is that Costco shoppers can enjoy an unlimited number of free samples in any given visit. So if you try a bite of ravioli you can’t get enough of, you can go back for seconds, thirds, and fourths.
Costco’s newest food court addition has mixed reviews.
Image source: Shutterstock
Costco’s food court is a major plus
Another terrific aspect of shopping at Costco is the food court.
Shopping can be hard work, especially when you have a longer list to tackle. So it’s nice to have a place where you can sit down for a bit, relax, and enjoy an inexpensive meal or snack.
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Costco’s food court is loaded with great deals, from the iconic $1.50 hot dog and soda combo to the gigantic $1.99 pizza slices that come in both plain and pepperoni.
And for just $1.99, you can get a giant cup of vanilla ice cream, which is probably a fraction of what you’d pay at any ice cream store in town. And if you want to update to a sundae, it’ll only cost you $0.50 more.
There’s also the jumbo-sized chocolate chip cookie for $2.49, which might seem like less of a good deal until you realize it’s large enough to eat like a meal. You could easily split it into four and still have a hard time finishing your piece.
Costco’s latest food court addition sounds appealing but falls flat
Just as Costco is constantly making changes to its inventory, it also likes to mix things up at its food courts.
Recently, Costco began selling a frozen strawberry lemonade at the price point of $2.99. The drink has 250 calories and is said to be made with real fruit and no artificial colors or flavors.
Related: Costco makes major investment to fix member problem
At first glance, frozen strawberry lemonade seems like the perfect summertime beverage. But so far, reviews from fans seem mixed.
“I miss the old smoothie,” one commenter wrote on Reddit.
“Downward spiral of cheaper ingredients…definitely not worth $3,” said another.
Some Costco members are also upset that the new frozen strawberry lemonade has replaced the strawberry banana smoothie, which many people preferred. And while some folks called the frozen strawberry lemonade too sweet, others pointed out that it was too tart.
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This isn’t the first time this year Costco fans have been left disappointed following a food court change. Recently, Costco introduced a combo calzone to its food court menu that was reminiscent of the old combo pizza. But members were quick to dismiss it as an inferior alternative.
A lot of people also miss the famous food court churro that used to be a mainstay on the menu. It was phased out in favor of the giant chocolate chip cookie.
Maurie Backman owns shares of Costco.
Related: Costco CEO admits warehouse club may change its hours
