Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 17
Costco Draws Singles and Friends With 31 Annual Visits as In-Person Socializing Shrinks
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 17

Costco Draws Singles and Friends With 31 Annual Visits as In-Person Socializing Shrinks

2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 17

Summary

  • Costco is increasingly serving as a social and dating venue, with shoppers using its aisles and food court to meet friends, replace date nights and even spark romance.
  • 31 trips a year by the average Costco shopper help make that possible, while free samples, the food court and the membership model turn routine shopping into a repeat communal ritual.
  • 35 minutes a day is all Americans now spend socializing on average, down from 45 minutes 20 years ago; only 30% socialize face-to-face on a given day, underscoring demand for informal gathering spots.
  • 44% of Americans say they have nowhere in their community to go regularly, while examples from students, veterans and couples suggest Costco is filling some of that 'third place' gap.

Insights

Could the secret to combating modern loneliness really be hidden between bulk groceries and free samples?
What happens when paying a retail membership fee becomes the most affordable way to find community?