Costco history: How a wholesale warehouse in Seattle grew into the third-largest retailer in the world and redefined retail

• Costco is a wholesale club that sells a wide range of products and services to fee-paying members.
• Founded in 1983 in Seattle, Washington, the company built off a concept pioneered by earlier stores.
• Costco made nearly $227 billion in revenue last year and is the third largest retailer in the world.

Costco is a members-only wholesale club that offers a variety of products and services at extremely competitive prices.

The company was founded in 1983 by Jim Sinegal and Jeff Brotman, who opened the first Costco warehouse in Seattle, Washington.

Now, 40 years later, Costco is the third largest retailer in the world with 852 locations, over 124 million cardholders, and more than $227 billion in annual revenue.

Here’s how the wholesale club redefined retail.