A sampling of 21 Costco rumors we've fact-checked

With back-to-school season in full swing, millions of families are likely heading to Costco to stock up on lunchbox items, snacks and easy weeknight meals. Costco Wholesale opened its first location in Seattle in September 1983. Since then, the company has ballooned into the third largest retailer in the United States ranked by sales, putting it behind retail giants Walmart and Amazon. With over 900 locations worldwide, the wholesaler is best known for selling items in bulk at a discounted price for paying members. As with any large corporation, Costco has been subject to a vast array of rumors and speculation over the years, including claims that it was actually owned by China or that the company's founder once said "I'll kill you" to its CEO in reference to the possibility of raising the price of the retailer's signature food court hot dog combo deal. Below is a sampling of 21 stories about Costco from our archives: Sources "About." Costco.Com, 2026, https://www.costco.com/f/-/about. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026."Costco Statistics: Members, Revenue & Growth (2025 Report)." Capital One Shopping, 2025, https://capitaloneshopping.com/research/costco-statistics/. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026."Costco's First Warehouse Store Was a Springboard to Global Growth." Seattle Business Magazine, 17 Sept. 2019, https://www.seattlebusinessmag.com/retail/costcos-first-warehouse-store-was-springboard-global-growth. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026."Top 100 Retailers 2025 List | NRF." Nrf.Com, 2025, https://nrf.com/research-insights/top-retailers/top-100-retailers/top-100-retailers-2025-list. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026. By Joey Esposito Joey Esposito has written for a variety of entertainment publications. He's into music, video games ... and birds. Article Tags