Kosher Products at Costco in Manhattan?

[sanekosher]

Hi! Wondering if any Costco members had checked out the new Costco in Manhattan (116th St & 1st Ave) and what kosher products they have. I've seen and heard about the one in the 5 towns-know they have meat, poultry, baked goods, etc. Wondering if there's any chance the Manhattan one will carry similar items.

[iris]

I was there last week. The parking was $5 for 2 hours. There was a very impressive and inexpensive selection of Kosher: chicken, meat, frozen hors d'oeuvres, appetizing and cold cuts and other prepared foods. There was even a Kosher Cannoli kit! The major catch was that the bakery dept. is not Kosher. I spoke to the bakery manager, who said that other Costco's have kosher bakeries and that I should speak to the store manager to request Kosher certification for the bakery dept. Is anyone else interested in joining together to have larger scale support for the change?

[berel]

the Kosher Costco chocolate chip cookies (dairy) in Lawrence NY are "evil".

[skadosh]

I visited the Manhattan Costco on Sunday , and they have as much kosher food as the 5 towns and monsey costco's. They have fresh kosher meat, chicken, salads, kugels, etc... all at the same prices as the other costcos.

[MartyB]

> all at the same prices as the other costcos.

That is impressive. Whenever I shop, or attempt to shop, food in Manhattan there is always a price premium. I remember when all stores were advertising $.xx discount on Enterman's cakes, who have prices listed on their items. In Manhattan they had signs stating that there was a SUPPLEMENT price of $.yy on Enterman's items. That was the first ever that I saw a price ABOVE the list price of an item.

[sanekosher]

agree it is impressive that they're not charging a premium in Manhattan-altho' most Manhattan residents will have to take a cab home w/all the packages! And if you're lucky enough to have a car in Manhattan, I heard they're charging for parking! Supposedly the charge is being levied by the bldg landlord, not Costco...but maybe if there's enough complaints, Costco will reimburse the parking fees.

[skadosh]

the parking charge is $4 for an hour. That is a relatively modest charge, considering it costs $8 to drive into new jersey.

[midasgold]

Actually, it costs nothing to drive into New Jersey from New York. Driving into New York City from New Jersey, however, is currently $8 [or $2 if one is on the (free) car pool plan and has at least two passengers of any age in the same vehicle as the driver].

[midasgold]

I hearken back to the 1980s in L.A. when the *ONLY* kosher potato chips available in that city were Wise potato chips flown in from New York and available only at the two or three kosher stores that were in existance at the time. A kosher colleague once brought a bag into work, and her manager - a Gentile lady from New Jersey - went crazy and blurted out, "Where'd ya get that?" She was so excited, I imagine, because it reminded her of home.

Anyway, those Wise potato chips ALWAYS had a sticker over the pre-printed price that was significantly higher than the supposed retail price of the product. [It was annoying to peel that sticker away to find a much lower price under it printed right on the bag... aaarrggghh.] As time progressed, Laura Scudder's potato chips obtained a reliable hashgacha (I don't know what the status is today, or if that brand still exists), and we did a happy dance when we discovered "Daddy Crisp" potato chips with the O-U in several flavors (including Hawaiin!) in our local Hugh's supermarket (which since became a Ralph's).

Now everything's kosher and obtainable everywhere, including the awesome cholev Yisroel Nestle's Crunch Ice Cream bars direct from the Holy Land (several of our local kosher markets carry them).

[The Cameraman]

Tell me about it. As a Shabbos treat last week, I bought Israeli Coca Cola and 7Up (made with sugar, not HFCS, yum!). Kids today don't know how good they have it, what with the wide availablity of kosher foods anywhere you travel, and not having to walk up a hill through the snow ten miles to get to yeshiva, battling Nazis on dinosaur-back all the way.

[KosherChef]

Guys, this is from Kosher-Today. A kosher newsletter. It sounds like good news for us!

New Yorks first COSTCO store in the borough of Manhattan that opened last week includes an unprecedented showcase of kosher foods. Company officials were boasting that it offered kosher consumers one of the largest selections of kosher foods in Manhattan. Kosher food officials expect the store to become a key shopping stop for kosher consumers from Manhattan and from as far away as Teaneck NJ.

[vallevin]

I might be only speaking for myself, but there is no way I am paying $8 over the bridge and fighting FDR traffic to go ANOTHER Costco. Those officials must have one too many l'chaims at a planning meeting.

[GilaB]

I think the target audience is those of us who live in Manhattan, with nary a big-box store in sight, rather than you Costco-blessed outer-borough folk.

[KosherChef]

You know if there are 3 people in the car you can use the carpool service and the GWB costs only 2 bucks. If I take my wife and kids, its a cheap trip.

[cheesecake17]

It's a cheap trip to get there-- but what about paying for all the stuff they want to buy in the store--- not so cheap after all :)

[vallevin]

Kosher Chef.... seriously, if you are taking the bridge over, which means you are in NJ why wouldn't you go to the Hackensack Costco?

[KosherChef]

I dont go to costcos on a regular basis, but I was just reminding you about the carpool option.

[berel]

if the management in Manhattan thinks there's a market for it you'll have it

[vallevin]

Tough to predict, the Costco in Hackensack (near Teaneck) STILL does not have fresh meat (does have deli and cheese though)