When Costco began opening warehouses around Australia a few years ago I was green with envy because they weren’t near me.  I can remember the first opening day of the Costco in Orlando.  I shopped there all the time when I lived in Florida.  Now that I’m in Australia I’ve missed warehouse shopping.

Then came the day that Costco announced it had purchased land north of Brisbane for a new warehouse. Brisbane is only an hour away from me and I knew I’d travel that far to shop at Costco.  This was over a  year ago.  Every few weeks I’d check on the progress.  It was worse than being pregnant.

I got on the Costco lovers Facebook page, the Costco Facebook page, I joined up to be notified when they’d open and last week I went down and bought my membership.  That’s because Costco finally opened today.

Was I there on day one?  You betcha. Now there were some who slept outside so they could get in first but I’m not quite that silly.  I certainly wasn’t alone in wanting to be there on day one because as we got off the highway, the traffic lights weren’t working and there were police at every intersection.  Why?  There was so much traffic going to Costco.  Seriously.  If you’d been in the sky looking down it would have looked like a swarm of bees heading for the entrance.

Usually I feel quite Australian because I have lived here for many years but one step inside Costco and I was 100% Yank.  Jelly Bellies, American bacon, ice tea, enough paper towels and toilet paper to cover the town, boats, hot tubs, refrigerators, dishwashers, clothing, fresh meat and veg, bakery plus an optical and hearing aid stores.

I say that it’s ‘my’ Costco because it’s a 45 minute drive to North Lakes, north of Brisbane.  If they want to put another one on the Sunshine Coast, I would be there on day one too!

The local paper put a story about the Costco opening in their online paper and some people were commenting with things like, “Why do we want an American store?” or “Who’d pay to shop without so much as a peek inside?” or “So much stuff for stupid people to buy.”  One even said one day soon someone would start a website for people of Costco (like Wal-Mart).  They just don’t understand how different this is from a department store.  I shook my head and thought about my visit to the store.  I’d go there again tomorrow if I needed something.  — or maybe just to walk around.

We came out with a full shopping cart and yes, most things made John roll his eyes.  “A big jar of Jelly Bellies?  Seriously?” Then he leaned over and gave me a kiss and said, “You Americans,” and grinned ear to ear.  You might remember that the word you and Americans has never been permitted to be used in the same sentence in our house. I let it pass today.

However, my return eyeroll said in no uncertain terms, “Stuff it!” and then I put in a jumbo container of Skippy peanut butter, eggs and some American bacon.  Charlie was really happy with a huge bag of dog treats and we have enough paper towels for any emergency – for the next five years.

We took Rob with us and he walked for nearly 2 hours.  He must have been exhausted but he said he wouldn’t have missed it for anything.  “It sure is done well, Maureen, even if it IS American.  They really know what they’re doing.”  He’s right.

Want a Jelly Belly?  I have a jumbo jar.