Right now, somewhere between the giant bags of trail mix and the 48-packs of toilet paper, Costco is quietly reshaping itself. And I don’t mean a little tweak here and there — I’m talking about a stack of changes hitting warehouses across the country in 2025 that will affect how millions of people shop, eat, and even enter the building. Some of these feel long overdue. Others? Honestly, a bit shocking. Whether you’re a die-hard member or someone who just tags along with a friend for the free samples, there’s a lot happening under that industrial roof.
The pizza nobody thought would come back
If you spent any time on Costco fan forums over the past few years (and yes, those exist — they’re surprisingly active), you’d know the combo pizza was basically a holy grail item. Costco pulled it from food courts a while back, and people were not happy about it. Petitions circulated. Social media rants were written. It was a whole thing.
Well, it’s back — sort of. Costco is bringing the combo pizza back as a take-and-bake option in the deli section. Same generous toppings you remember: spicy Italian sausage, pepperoni, green peppers, onions, mushrooms. But the crust has been reformulated to crisp up better in a home oven, and the cheese blend got an upgrade. Early reviews from test markets are overwhelmingly positive, with some members actually saying they prefer baking it at home because they can customize the cook time. Which, if you think about it, makes a lot of sense — not everyone wants their crust at the same crispiness level.
Why you won’t find books anymore (most of the year)
This one caught a lot of people off guard. Starting in January 2025, Costco is pulling year-round book sales from its warehouse floors. No more browsing through bestsellers on a random Tuesday in April. The book section — which was always a surprisingly good spot for deals on coffee table books and popular titles — is going seasonal. You’ll still find books from September through December, timed for the holiday rush. But that’s it.
So what does that mean for people who relied on Costco for affordable reads? It means adjusting. Some members are already shifting to Costco.com for off-season book purchases. Publishers are feeling the squeeze too, since year-round exposure in a warehouse with that kind of foot traffic was valuable real estate. The floor space those books occupied? It’s going to other products. Costco clearly did the math and decided the square footage was worth more with something else sitting on it for eight months of the year.
Twenty-nine new warehouses in a single year
Here’s a number that jumped out at me: Costco plans to open 29 new warehouse locations in 2025. That includes 26 brand-new stores and three relocations. Six of those are slated for March alone, stretching from Brentwood, California to Sharon, Massachusetts. It’s one of the biggest expansion pushes in the company’s recent history.
The international side of this is interesting too. New stores are planned for Japan, Mexico, and Canada. Each warehouse typically creates around 250 jobs, and Costco’s reputation for competitive pay makes those positions pretty sought after. Part of the reason for the aggressive growth is overcrowding at existing locations — anyone who’s tried to navigate a Costco parking lot on a Saturday morning knows exactly what I’m talking about. More stores means (hopefully) shorter lines and fewer elbows in the frozen food aisle.
That new scanner at the door isn’t just checking your card
Have you noticed new membership card scanners at the entrance of your local Costco? They’re popping up at warehouses across the country, and they do more than just beep and let you through. The system collects real-time data on how many people are in the store, which helps management adjust staffing and stock levels on the fly. Entry is faster now — no more awkwardly holding up your card for a visual check.
There’s also a security component. The scanners help prevent non-members from slipping in, which has apparently been more of an issue than most people realize. Costco has said the scan data isn’t tied to your purchase history or personal information beyond basic membership verification. Whether you fully trust that or not is up to you, but the privacy policy appears straightforward on paper.
Fresh sushi where you least expect it
This might be the most underrated change happening at Costco right now. More warehouses are rolling out a fresh sushi program — and I’m not talking about sad, pre-packaged rolls with crunchy rice. These are made daily by trained sushi chefs, on-site. The selection ranges from classic California rolls to specialty options, and the pricing stays true to Costco’s whole thing of making you feel like you got away with something.
The fish meets Costco’s sourcing and sustainability standards, and there are strict food safety protocols in place. But what really matters to most people is this: can you grab a quality sushi tray while doing your regular grocery run? Apparently, yes. Initial customer feedback has been good enough that Costco is already considering adding more varieties at select locations. If your warehouse hasn’t gotten the sushi treatment yet, it might just be a matter of time.
The food court is losing a fan favorite (and gaining something new)
Ready for one that might sting a little? The churro is being removed from the Costco food court menu. I know. Take a second. But before the outrage builds too much, the replacement is a Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie that’s already getting solid reviews from people who’ve tried it. Whether it fills the churro-shaped hole in your heart is a personal question only you can answer.
Some locations are also swapping out traditional seating for standing tables. The goal is better traffic flow during peak hours, which — if you’ve ever tried to find a seat at a Costco food court on a weekend — makes practical sense even if it’s a little annoying. Access rules are tightening, too. Stricter member-only enforcement at the food court means you can’t just wander in off the street for a $1.50 hot dog anymore. Speaking of which, don’t worry: that legendary hot dog combo deal isn’t going anywhere.
Membership costs more now, but there’s a reason
Nobody loves a price increase, but Costco’s membership fee bump is relatively modest. The Gold Star membership went from $60 to $65. Executive members are now paying $130 instead of $120. Is it ideal? No. But the Executive tier now offers a higher maximum annual reward — $1,250 instead of $1,000 — which is real money back for people who do a lot of their shopping there. New perks include enhanced travel benefits and early access to some online sales.
Membership numbers are still climbing, so the increase doesn’t seem to be scaring people off. Costco says the extra revenue is going toward infrastructure — things like the new scanner systems, the warehouse expansions, and overall improvements to the shopping experience. Whether that justification holds up depends on what you personally get out of your membership. For heavy users, the math still works out favorably.
Prices dropped on items you actually buy
Here’s something you don’t hear often in 2025: a major retailer is lowering prices. Costco has reduced prices on several popular items, including Kirkland Signature chicken tenderloins, baguettes, and aluminum foil. While other stores are quietly nudging prices upward, Costco is going the other direction on everyday staples. That’s notable.
The reductions come from supply chain improvements and better deals negotiated with suppliers. Costco’s massive buying power gives them room to do this in ways that smaller retailers simply can’t match. And here’s a pro tip while we’re on the subject of prices: pay attention to those price tag codes. A price ending in $.97 usually means it’s a clearance or manager markdown — the lowest it’ll go. Prices ending in $.99 are standard Costco pricing. If you see an asterisk on the tag, that item might not be coming back, so grab it while you can. And prices ending in a 9 but not $.99 (like $3.79) are typically manufacturer promotions that won’t last forever. It’s a little code system that most shoppers walk right past without noticing.
When you stack all of these changes together — the pizza comeback, the book pullback, the sushi expansion, the food court shakeups, the tech upgrades, the price drops — it paints a picture of a company that’s trying to stay ahead of what its members actually want. Not every change will land perfectly with everyone. Losing the churro still feels personal. But most of this comes down to Costco doing what it’s always done: figuring out where the value is and going all in.
