Costco to Close All California Stores on Fourth of July

Costco will close all of its U.S. warehouses, including its 142 locations in California, on Saturday, July 4, in observance of the holiday. The membership-only retailer's decision means shoppers in California, which has the largest number of Costco warehouses in the U.S. accounting for approximately 23% of the chain's domestic footprint, will need to find alternative retailers for their Fourth of July needs.

This closure is a continuation of Costco's established practice of shutting down on several major holidays throughout the year. These holidays include New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

For shoppers still in need of barbecue essentials or other last-minute items, several other major retailers are expected to remain open. Walmart and Target plan to operate with regular holiday hours. Whole Foods and other Kroger-owned grocery stores, such as Ralphs, are also scheduled to be open. Trader Joe's will be open but will close at 5 p.m., while Aldi stores are expected to have reduced hours that may vary by location, with customers advised to check with their local stores.

Costco, which originated in San Diego with the opening of the Price Club in 1976, has grown into one of the largest warehouse retailers in the country. The company describes itself as a membership warehouse club focused on providing members with the best possible prices on quality brand-name merchandise across hundreds of worldwide locations.