Costco Wholesale, the warehouse-style retailer known for its near impossible to match price points and regularly growing and changing offering of inventory, has recently made an announcement that has sparked much excitement with drivers who have a daily commute. In a recent earnings calls, the company CEO confirmed that the gas station chain operated by the wholesaler will be extending its operating hours to better align with the schedules of its customers and also increase overall usage. The news was initially shared by means of a post made on the company’s official social media page.
Costco Gas Stations now open earlier and close later
With a Costco membership comes many perks such as exclusive access to the warehouse, a bulk inventory of products from just about every department you can think of, and of course, the crowd favorite food court that is home to the iconic $1.50 hot dog and drink meal combo. Another perk loved by customers, or rather their bank accounts, is the Kirkland Signature brand fuel sold at Costco Fuel Stations which boasts a price point per gallon that is 20 cents cheaper than that of local competitors without compromising on quality.
During an earnings call on March 6, company CEO Ron Vachris confirmed that the company will be extending its “gas station hours in North America during the quarter to make filling up at Costco more convenient for our members.” However, of the 137 million members signed up with Costco globally, only the North American cohort will be able to enjoy these new hours.
According to the post sharing this news, the new hours for the filling stations are “Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m, unless otherwise noted.” Shoppers should note that hours for the gas stations in Hawaii and Alaska might differ.
Vachris explained to investors that “Generally, our stations are now staying open an hour later than they did previously, with some opening earlier as well.”
Customers who frequent the retailer’s fuel stations could not be more excited for this change. One user humorously wrote, “Adulthood is being excited about the new hours at the costco gas station.”
“How are we gonna celebrate this,” another person added, and “One of the best decisions ever,” was shared by another.
What spurred on this change?
In addition to demand from customers, it appears that the retailer was also pushed to make this decision after recording a slight decline in comparable gas sales for the quarter ending February 18, 2025. As of April 2024, the average price for gas began showing a decline and by September the price had dropped to $3.20 per gallon meaning Costco’s lower fuel prices would no longer seem as extraordinary thereby increasing competition for the company.
“Gas comps were negative low single digits during the quarter, driven by the average price per gallon being down slightly,” Costco CFO Gary Millerchip explained in an earnings call earlier in March. By extending its operating hours, the company also hopes to draw in more customers, however, even this has its limitations as the filling stations are only accessible to membership holders.
“We are seeing an improvement in overall usage of the gas station. So, it’s early days, of course, but so far, we’ve been pleased by the member response,” Millerchip additionally shared.
During the call, Vachris also shared with analysts that, “We have 60 U.S. gas stations going through different — they’re at a different phase in expansions now.”
As a result of this change, customers have also been asking for extended hours at the warehouses, however, whilst the company is open to the idea, it does not appear to have any immediate plans for this.
“We did see some demand from the commuters, both at the early hours and the evening hours, so I think that that’s going to be a real benefit to those folks as well,” Vachris explained. “But we will continue to look at the warehouse hours. No plans in place at this time.”