I just re-started my Costco membership recently after staying away from the overwhelming crowds in both the Debarr and Dimond locations in Anchorage. I came down here earlier on a whim to pick up some groceries. I'm glad I did. Costco Business Center is located off of N. Muldoon in the former Sam's Club warehouse next to the Glenn Highway and the Elmendorf gate. This location was meant to accommodate local businesses in the area for supplies, but this location is just as good for regular members when going grocery shopping. The big takeaway is the stark contrast of the crowd of shoppers compared to the other locations. The crowds are much lighter and the checkout lines are a lot shorter, yes this is Costco we're talking about. When I hear the name Costco, I usually think of the great deals they have on a wide variety of items, but I also associate chaos and confusion every time I go into one.
I can actually navigate the aisles and go around the store at my own pace instead of rushing to pick up what I need and standing in long lines for several minutes when checking out. I found plenty of items on sale and at lower prices compared to the regular grocery stores nearby. The number of items I purchased are too numerous to mention in this review, but a few of them definitely stand out for the price. On this trip, I found a 2.5lb canister of Virginia extra-large Peanuts for only $7.99, a 4-pack of Lysol Antibacterial Wipes for $11.49 (a pack of 2 costs $18.99 at Carrs so this was one of the best deals you can find) a 32 oz. tub of Golden Irish Spreadable Butter imported from Ireland for $11.99, and a box of Burnt Ends Smoked and Seasoned Beef Brisket 1.60lbs. for $23.50 (I was ecstatic to find this as I mentioned in previous reviews that most BBQ places in Anchorage don't have this on the menu).
There was only a two-minute wait for checking out at the registers on a Sunday afternoon compared to 10 or 20 minutes at the Debarr location around the same time. The downsides to this location is no Food Court at the front, although I suspect this was meant to keep crowds under control during peak busy times. Smart move, but it's still nice to get a cheap slice of pizza or a hotdog on the way out. There's also no eyeglass store, auto shop, clothing, furniture, electronics, or jewelry at this location, but I'm happy with just a regular grocery run at large quantities and affordable prices. With a slower pace compared to the other stores, it is much easier for employees to stop what they are doing and take the time to help you find an item in the warehouse. Parking has to be the best of the three locations, there was no difficulty finding an available spot not far from the entrance. Despite the omissions of products not found here, I find the simplicity of grocery shopping in a large warehouse with relative ease a nice change of pace. read more