Anyone who has driven to a Costco in B.C., particularly in Metro Vancouver, can attest to the fact that parking can be a nightmare, and some Bellingham residents are weighing in.
Based on discussions online on platforms like Reddit and Facebook, the Richmond Costco parking lot is among the worst of them and gets a lot of flak, but we’d also throw a vote in for the Costco near Production Way.
Bellingham residents offered their own opinions on Costco locations in B.C.
The original poster was asking for feedback about travelling to B.C. to visit Costco for chicken tenders, fries and poutine. They were specifically inquiring about both the Abbotsford and Langley locations.
“Has anyone ventured up north for a Costco trip? How was it? Parking the same? Were there different items? Was poutine available, and if so, how was it? Would it be worth the drive?” they asked.
Part of the reason for the conversation is the fact that U.S. Costco locations are getting tenders as a new item, something that Canadian members could already enjoy.
One Redditor called out the parking situation at the Langley location specifically and suggested that you’d have to be a masochist to park there.
“And Langley parking… if you willingly attempt that, you’re either a masochist or conducting a social experiment. I’ve seen Canadians nearly fistfight over a spot. It’s wild,” they said, adding, “Don’t forget the exchange rate from your bank. Happy shopping!”
Another Redditor suggested that B.C. Costcos, particularly Langley, Abbotsford and Richmond, were a lot busier than the ones in Bellingham.
One Bellingham resident said, “I go to Abbotsford to get packaged items no longer available here. I choose it over Langley since I’d rather have a peaceful drive through the county, rather than more [driving] in B.C. It is literally right over the border.”
Others shared some positive reviews of the Canadian Costco poutine and the chicken tenders.
Another Redditor said, “FWIW, the poutine at the Costco directly across the street from the Canucks arena in Vancouver was surprisingly good!”
Someone else said, “I don’t go often, but I really like the poutine and chicken tenders at the Abbotsford location. And it’s not too far over the border. Maybe a mile or two.”
Costcos in Bellingham aren’t as busy these days, with some Bellinghamsters last year suggesting that reality is thanks to the persistent drop in B.C. traffic in the Washington State city.
The state of the relationship between Bellingham and Metro Vancouver
Bellingham and Metro Vancouver have shared a unique and special relationship over the years, thanks to the proximity between the two regions.
Trips down to Bellingham for shopping were a frequent and favoured pastime for many Metro Vancouver residents, including trips down to the ever-popular Trader Joe’s, of which there are now two locations in Bellingham, including one with a sizable parking lot.
That is, until some recent politics changed things dramatically.
As of this month, thanks in part to information collected by the Washington State Department of Transportation, trips between B.C. and Washington have now reached 15 consecutive months of volume declines.
While many are still travelling to the States, the decline began when tensions between the U.S. and Canada emerged, along with safety concerns at the border.
Daily Hive has also received countless emails from readers about why they’re refusing to travel to the States.
“America is totally unrecognizable,” said a Daily Hive reader earlier this year. “I am now more convinced than ever that Canadians need to boycott travel to America as a matter of national principle.”
They added, “I am disgusted, and we need to push back with our wallets. And we shouldn’t be sorry.”
What’s your least favourite Costco parking lot in B.C.? Let us know in the comments or email vancouver@dailyhive.com.