(NEXSTAR) – There might be an unusual type of Costco near you.
Of the more than 600 Costco stores currently operating in the United States, 28 belong to a group of stores called Costco Business Centers, which are essentially Costco locations designed to serve businesses and restaurateurs rather than consumers.
Costco's Business Centers, which the company describes as “Costco with a difference,” offer a wider range of products (often in larger quantities) than you'd find at a typical Costco. Among these products, Costco Business Center customers can find office supplies, food service equipment, and items available for resale. But they also offer many of the same staple items found at the average Costco, such as meat, groceries, and cleaning supplies, according to the company, though often in different quantities, sometimes offered by the “pallet or truckload.”
Because of this, Costco estimates that over 70% of the specific products (regardless of category, brand or size) found at Costco Business Centers are not offered at other Costco warehouses.
“More business-like in nature,” one Reddit user wrote recently, trying to sum up the experience for the more casual Costco shopper.
However, Costco's business centers may lack other amenities aimed at retail customers. For example, customers say that seasonal products, clothing, books, toys, and free samples are unlikely to be found in business centers. Also, as noted on the company's website, only about half (13) of its stores have gas stations, and even fewer (4) have food courts.
Additionally, none of the business centers, except for the Honolulu and Salt Lake City stores (which double as regular Costcos), have pharmacies, tire centers, hearing departments or optical departments.
But more business-minded customers may not need those amenities, and the loss of those sections and the resulting reduction in retail-oriented merchandise could mean fewer foot traffic to stores, shoppers say.
“It's never been this crowded,” said one shopper after filming a tour of the local business center and its enormous refrigerated section.
Shoppers who want to tour the Costco Business Center don't need any special membership, either, as the warehouse is open to all Costco membership levels.
Unfortunately, there are fewer business center locations than typical storefronts: there are currently 28 business centers in 16 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, Texas, Utah, and Washington. However, they are not evenly distributed geographically, with 19 in the Western U.S. (including 11 in California alone).
If you still want to make the pilgrimage, there's nothing stopping the average Costco customer from planning a visit — just make sure you bring a refrigerated truck and some self-control.
“[The] “The ability to buy large containers of things you don't really need but that justify emergency preparedness…yeah, that feeling keeps me from entering that building unsupervised,” one Reddit user lamented after accompanying him to a local business center.
