Whether you’re a fan of its Kirkland Signature brand or its vast variety of in-store samples, Costco has become a top choice for shoppers across the country.
However, you may not know that Costco’s history in Canada and its international expansion have deep ties to Metro Vancouver.
Costco’s origin story began on the West Coast. In 1976, entrepreneur Sol Price started Price Club — the world’s first membership warehouse club in San Diego, California.
A few years later, Jim Sinegal, who initially worked as the executive vice president of merchandising at Price Club, teamed up with businessman Jeff Brotman to open up the world’s first Costco warehouse in Seattle, Washington, in 1983.
Costco’s first store opened in Seattle in 1983/ Costco
While Sinegal and Brotman were unsure if shoppers would like the wholesale concept, it quickly became a hit and expanded rapidly in Washington and Oregon.
In 1985, Costco eyed international expansion and had its sights set on opening up shop in Canada.
And that’s where Metro Vancouver played an important role because Costco kept true to its West Coast roots.
If you’ve ever visited the Costco located on Brighton Avenue in Burnaby, you’re stepping foot in the wholesale club’s first Canadian and international store, which opened in October 1985.
Costco’s first Canadian and international location is the Burnaby store located at Brighton Ave. (Google Maps/ Screenshot)
Local history buffs may remember that before this location became the first Canadian Costco, it previously served as Woodward’s Furniture Fair Warehouse.
The Furniture Fair Warehouse and Showrooms was later converted to Costco’s first Canadian and international location in Burnaby. (City of Burnaby Archives)
An archived newscast from CBC provides a glimpse into how customers reacted to the new shopping experience at the time.
“You buy cases of what you want for cash. No credit cards, not a frill in sight,” said CBC reporter Karen Webb in the clip.
“It’s supposed to be a place where small retailers can come to take advantage of a big organization’s buying power, all for the cost of a membership,” she continued, highlighting the club’s unique approach to securing loyal customers.
After all, membership and cost is the key aspect of Costco’s business model. According to the company’s website, no matter where a customer lives, their “membership is worth the savings on everyday necessities and wow items.”
“This shared philosophy is what has led to Costco’s well-known strategies: keeping markup to no more than 14% over cost; providing a money-back guarantee on most products and membership fees; focusing on a narrow selection of products in a wide range of categories; proceeding with steady, but cautious, growth; and never selling seconds or inferior goods.”
Costco has since expanded across the country, with 109 warehouses in Canada to date.
Do you remember Costco opening its first store in Burnaby back in 1985? Let us know in the comments.