LOS ALTOS, Calif. — According to research firm Placer.ai, Costco has posted year-over-year growth in foot traffic every quarter since Q2 2021, with both overall and same-store visits trending upward. In Q2 2025, overall visits rose 3.2% compared with the prior year, underscoring the retailer’s ability to build traffic not just through expansion but also at existing warehouses.
“Same-store visits have also consistently increased during this period—indicating that the retailer is driving more traffic to existing stores and quickly building strong member bases at its new warehouses,” Placer.ai noted.
August 2025 was particularly strong, with overall visits up 5.5% year-over-year and same-store visits up 4.0%, fueled in part by back-to-school demand.
Experiential Edge
The report also highlighted Costco’s ability to draw longer, more productive visits than rival superstores or supermarkets, with shoppers spending more time per trip and filling larger baskets. This reinforces the company’s “experiential value model,” according to Placer.ai.
Lower gas prices and easing grocery inflation have further reduced friction for members, creating favorable conditions for continued growth.
Shifting Shopping Patterns
Since June 30, Costco has added an exclusive perk for its Executive Members: most warehouses now open at 9 a.m., one hour earlier than before. Placer.ai reported that this change has already begun to reshape shopping patterns.
“The additional morning hour appears to have encouraged some Executive Members to shift their trips earlier in the day, which in turn reduced traffic concentration during late-morning and afternoon peaks,” the report stated. This redistribution is likely creating a more balanced flow of visitors — and improving the shopping experience overall.
New Fuel Investment
Beyond store traffic, Costco is also expanding in new directions. In June, the company announced plans to open its first-ever stand-alone gas station in Mission Viejo, Calif. The city approved tearing down a former Bed Bath & Beyond to make room for the member-only fuel site, which will feature 40 pumps but no convenience store. The station, located at the Mission Viejo Freeway Center off Interstate 5, underscores Costco’s ongoing commitment to offering value beyond its warehouses.
Thorvardur de Shong
