Need 64 ounces of soy sauce ($4.89), 128 ounces of Hellmann’s mayonnaise ($10.59) or 80 ounces of Hidden Valley Ranch ($8.89)?
Probably not.
But starting today, if you’re ever in a pinch and want three pounds of almonds ($9.69), five liters of olive oil ($19.99) or 192 ounces of organic milk ($8.99), there’s a one-stop shop a short subway ride uptown, just waiting to fulfill your bulk-buy needs.
The first Manhattan Costco, located on 116th Street off the FDR, throws open its doors to shoppers at 8 a.m. today.
Featuring more than 105,000 square feet of selling floor, a selection of more than 3,500 different products, a massive fresh-food department, a pharmacy, a doctor-staffed optical department, a hearing aid area, a photo center and a food court, it’s the embodiment of all our big-box suburban shopping fantasies.
While we’re not sure where these city dwellers are storing their 40-pound bags of Kirkland dog food ($23.39) and massive cases of San Pellegrino ($13.59) — not in our studio apartments, that’s for sure — The Post found plenty of small-living-space-appropriate surprises in-store.
Like the massive wall of Ugg “Ultra” short boots ($124.99), the Chanel classic flap handbags ($1,999.99) and the classic Louis Vuitton “Speedy 30” mini-duffels ($589.99).
So what brings the box store to our fair city?
“We’ve wanted to be in Manhattan for a long time, and we’ve finally found what we consider to be the right spot,” says Yoram Rubanenko, Costco’s VP of operations.
“We already have a lot of members in Manhattan that are shopping in Queens, Yonkers, New Rochelle, Brooklyn and Hackensack,” Rubanenko says.
The new store has hired 375 employees from the neighborhood.
“We have a lot of customers in Manhattan who probably aren’t shopping as frequently because it’s a little
bit farther to get up there and go to those areas — but I think with us being a little closer, it will be very convenient.”
(We tested it out, and found that a cab from midtown to the store ran us about $12 each way).
An annual Costco membership — which is required to shop there — starts at $50. Check costco.com for more details.
Now, if only Costco sold storage space . . .