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Attention, Costco Wholesale members of Humboldt County! After a grueling two-month hiatus, your favorite corporate food court is back in business.

We’ve spent weeks eyeing the mysterious polythene construction cocoon wrapped around the renovation site, desperately wondering whether the legendary Kirkland Signature ¼-lb. all-beef hot dog and 20 oz. soda deal would maintain its suspiciously cheap price tag upon reopening. The answer? Yes, dear reader, the hot dog combo is still one of the best deals in the nation at just $1.50, plus tax. 

(A quick bit of trivia: The famed hot dog combo has resisted inflation since Costco introduced it to its food courts in 1984, one year after the wholesale retail giant opened its first location. How ‘bout that?)

To commemorate the long-awaited return of the food court, which reopened to customers on Monday, your Lost Coast Outpost went on a little lunchtime outing to check out the new digs. Please, join us for a hot dog!

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When I arrived at the Eureka Costco with my colleague Andrew Goff about a quarter past noon on Monday, the food court buzzed with excitement. 

I counted at least two dozen people in active munch mode, while another dozen eagerly awaited their orders near the food counter, which is now situated around the corner from its previous location at the front of the store. Gone are the days of waiting for your greasy little snack in that high-traffic thoroughfare between the food counter and front-end registers. Now, you can place your order at one of four self-serve touchscreen kiosks and wait for your food without being trampled by other shoppers.

As I ordered my $1.50 hot dog at one of the touchscreens, I wondered whether the hot turkey and provolone sandwich was a new item or if I had seen it before. (I’m still not sure, honestly.) Other than that, all menu items and prices appear to be unchanged. 

(While I’m at it with the parenthetical thoughts, perhaps I should mention that this post is in no way sponsored by Costco Wholesale or Kirkland. I’m just having a little bit of fun, okay?) 

After ordering, I tried to find a place to sit among the crowded tables. No dice! All of the tables — including the stand-up only high-tops — were taken by other lucky customers. I dodged passing shopping carts and found a place to stand near the coffee grinding station.

About 90 seconds later, an enthusiastic employee called out, “Order Number 706!” I scampered to the counter, flashing her my receipt as I claimed the empty cup and bare hot dog. As I turned toward the soda dispenser, I realized I had almost forgotten one of the most critical components of the food court transformation: the highly anticipated switch from Pepsi to Coca-Cola products. 

After grabbing a Coke, I made my way to the condiment station where, as per usual, I put way too much mustard on my hot dog. PRO TIP: While I’m not usually an onions-on-hot-dogs kind of gal, if you ask nicely, the food court will hand over a little ramekin of diced onions upon request. You’re welcome!

A small table cleared after I finished dressing my coveted ‘dog, and I found myself seated next to a wholesome group of men sharing a pepperoni pizza. 

As I unwrapped the brown paper swaddling from my lunch, I pondered the umbrellas emblazoned with “KIRKLAND SIGNATURE 100% ALL BEEF HOT DOGS” that shielded some of the picnic-style tables from the fluorescent lighting overhead. After taking a couple of bites, an employee sweeping the seating area asked, “How are those first hot dogs coming out?” 

“Great!” I exclaimed, attempting to shield my mustard-covered face with my mustard-covered napkin. I asked if the food court was as busy as expected for opening day. “I just got here at 12:15,” she said. “It’s been busy, but we’re not slammed. It’s moving a lot faster now that we’ve got more space in the back.”

After we finished our lunch, we peered through the windows into the pristine industrial kitchen and watched an employee prepare a Chicken Bake for the oven while another went to town stretching pizza dough across a circular pan. One of them smiled and waved at us. 

And there you have it, folks! The newly remodeled Costco food court is just a streamlined, shinier version of its former self. Now go get yourself a hot dog.

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