Finding Community and Grief at Costco: A Personal Essay on Retail as Ritual

Summary

A personal essay exploring the author's resistance to and eventual embrace of Costco, framing the warehouse store as a place of community, ritual, and mourning in the Pacific Northwest. The author contrasts the emotional experience of shopping at Costco with the cultural phenomenon of "Crying in H Mart," suggesting that Costco serves as a space for processing grief and finding connection through shared consumer experiences. The piece reflects on Costco's cultural penetration, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, and examines what the store represents beyond just shopping.