We’ve all heard of pop-up bars, parties, and restaurants, but a pop-up wholesaler? It sounds unlikely, yet that’s essentially what happened when Costco seemed to rise overnight in The Villages. The massive warehouse and gas station complex went from bare ground to fully operational in just a few months. It reminded me of how I imagined Vegas springing up in the desert—only this oasis is full of towering pallets of Kirkland Signature paper towels, rotisserie chickens fresh from the oven, $1.50 hot dog-and-soda combos, bulk snack packs, aisles of electronics, seasonal décor, and wine by the case. There’s also a pharmacy, optician, and tire shop. And let’s not forget the samples. Lots and lots of samples.

I couldn’t wait. I grew up with Costcos on every corner, so when I found out one was opening just around the corner from my house, I was elated. Located at 675 Tatonka Terrace, between Hobby Lobby and PetSmart, the Costco Warehouse complex and gas station began construction only a few months ago. Now, it’s open for business.

I went in cartless so I could easily maneuver through the plastic ramekins full of Dubai chocolates, Blue Zone healthy foods, and AMYLU proteins. I was worried I’d get a stern look for hovering over the chicken alfredo or sugar-free lemonade, but I didn’t care. It was worth the $65 Gold Membership.

I arrived around 7 a.m. to find about 200 people in line for the liquor store. At the front was Ruben Gardener, who had spent the night in line to make sure he could catch the bourbon allocations Costco is famous for. “We stayed here last night and had a tailgate party down the street,” Ruben says. He lives 40 minutes away but works around the county and had been counting the days until opening. “Even though there’s a limit on what we can buy, it was worth it because you can’t get these prices anywhere else.”

Costco’s liquor department has its own cult following. Rare bourbon allocations drop without warning and sell out in hours. Fans camp overnight for bottles like Blanton’s, Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, Weller, and even the occasional Van Winkle—always at prices that make whiskey lovers giddy. Trey and Christine Lane came all the way from Jacksonville just for the bourbon and were fifth in line. Most everyone moved through the process quickly thanks to Gabe, the door attendant, who helped manage the crowd.
On the other side were people with carts, eager to take advantage of bulk items like water, mouthwash, and cat food.

Chris Caruso, originally from New York, has lived in the Village of Bonnybrook for eight years. He loves the bulk food, but today he was specifically looking for a frozen item. “The one in New York has this great frozen eggplant,” he says. “That’s the first thing I’m going to look for, but then I’ll just keep finding things that are special to Costco or from Kirkland.”

Costco Wholesale Corporation, which opened in 1983, now operates 905 warehouses worldwide, employs more than 333,000 people, and boasts about 136.8 million members as of early 2025. Over the past year, Costco has made headlines for its industry-leading employee compensation and workplace culture. It’s one of the main reasons I joined 20 years ago. I’ll keep coming back for the excellent toilet paper, samples, travel services, and most likely keep leaving with more than I needed.