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Costco Opens First Standalone Members-Only Gas Station in California

The company is testing a fuel-only, members‑only footprint as a way to cut pump prices and relieve warehouse congestion.

Overview

  • Costco opened the Mission Viejo fuel-only station in late June as a members-only site that turns away drivers without a Costco card.
  • Customers praised lower pump prices but complained the location lacks diesel, propane refills and a car wash, and reports say it does not offer electric-vehicle charging.
  • Local social-media posts and visitors warned the site’s one-way access and pump layout could cause traffic backups and long queues at the property.
  • Reporting says Costco plans at least one more standalone station in Honolulu with an expected 2027 opening, but wider expansion has not been confirmed by the company.
  • Fuel sales have been a meaningful business for Costco, representing about 10% of 2025 revenue from hundreds of stations, which helps explain why the company is experimenting with this new format.