Things you didn’t know you didn’t know about Costco!

No, I did not inadvertently repeat myself in the title of this post…it was intentional.

Costco lovers know a lot about our store…but there is also a lot that we don’t know and likely haven’t even thought about.

Here are 10 random facts about Costco:

1. The first Costco store opened in Seattle, Washington in 1983

2. The average size of a Costco store is 143,800 square feet

3. In total, the United States Costcos employ 135,000 individuals (worldwide the total is 200,000).

4. Last year, Costco sold approximately 1.6 billion gallons of gas.

5. Costco Optical is the fifth-largest optical company in the United States.

6. Last year, Costco sold more than 69 million hot dog-and-soda combinations, (about 200,000 per day). This is four times as many hot dogs as all Major League Baseball stadiums combined sell per season.

7.Costco buys up half of the world’s supply of cashews

8. Costco in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has designated horse and buggy parking for the Amish. (To be honest, I’m more surprised that there even is a Costco in Amish country! I wonder what ear electronics section looks like…)

9. Costco is the largest importer of high-end French wines.

10. In 2014, a couple got permission to get married after hours in the frozen food section.

Did you know any of these? Any particularly surprising?

Are there any facts you’d like to know about Costco that you don’t feel like looking up? Post in the comments and I’ll try to find the answers!