Costco is an American chain of wholesale club giant superstores located throughout the United States and internationally. The membership-only big box retail stores sell various groceries, bulk items, frozen foods, furniture, household goods, clothing, books, jewelry, gardening and many other items. In addition, Costco has services such as photo production, optical, automotive, pharmacy, travel and much more.
The first Costco location opened in 1976 when it was called Price Club. Located in San Diego, the company took advantage of the growth of the warehouse club industry and, in 1983, the first location called Costco was opened in Seattle. The merging of Costco and Price Club in 1993 brought the company to more than 200 locations. Today the company has more than 840 locations throughout the world in more than a dozen countries.