Life
Costco has fans all over the country for a wide variety of reasons, but one of its most appealing features is undeniably the food court. Where else can you still get a hot dog and drink these days for a mere $1.50? But if your favorite Costco dog is specifically the Polish dog, I, uh… have some bad news for you: Costco is discontinuing the Polish hot dog from its food court menu at a number of locations, reports the Seattle Times. The all-beef hot dog will remain — so, yes, you can still get a dog-and-drink combo for $1.50 at Costco — but the Polish dog has been just one casualty among many as the retail giant looks to shake up it classic food court line-up. And people, as you might expect, have a lot of Feelings about it. Bustle has reached out to Costco for comment and will update this piece when we receive a response.
Costco Chief Financial Officer Richard Galanti confirmed the news to the Seattle Times on Tuesday; however, according to Galanti, the Polish dog isn’t disappearing from Costco entirely: It’ll still be sold in bulk. He also underlined the fact that the all-beef hot dog combo would remain on the menu for the same price it’s always been. (Costco has been selling dogs with drinks for $1.50 since 1985.) But in an effort to expand its offerings to suit a wider range of dietary needs, the Polish dog and a few other items are going the way of all things: According to Fortune, the brisket sandwich, beef chili, and frozen yogurt have reportedly disappeared from some stores, while an acai bowl and an al pastor salad featuring a plant-based protein have recently begun arriving in their places.
The al pastor salad, I would argue, is particularly notable. The Costco food court has historically been many things — affordable, tasty, relatively fast depending on when you go, etc. — but vegetarian/vegan-friendly is not one of them. With the exception of the cheese pizza, there have been few, if any, vegetarian entrée options available that actually included protein: The Caesar salad comes with chicken; the various sandwiches have pretty much exclusively been filled with meat; and veggie dogs have been conspicuously absent. With the addition of the salad, though, there’s finally a vegetarian option with protein on the menu — and that matters. (For what it’s worth, I’ve tried it; it’s pretty good.)
But the folks who loved the Polish hot dog really loved the Polish hot dog — and they’re voicing their sadness at its removal loudly and clearly on Twitter. So too, though, are the people who are excited about the new items expressing their approval of the whole thing. Here’s a peek into the Battle of the Polish Hot Dog that’s currently raging on social media:
2
"WHERE IS YOUR HUMANITY"
...Busy raising entry-level wages? I mean... maybe. Just maybe.
3
True Heartbreak
Better to have loved and lost the Polish dog than never to have loved at all.
4
The Greatest Tragedy Of All Time
Legit wondering if Tommy Wiseau has strong feelings about the Costco food court menu now, and if so, what those feelings truly are.
6
Say Goodbye To Your Childhood
At least you'll always have those memories, right?
9
A Feature Request
The features don't yet exist to enable accurate expression of emotion online.
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"I'd Like To Ask For Privacy In This Challenging Time"
People just want to mourn in peace.
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A 'Futurama' Meme For Every Occasion
I feel like this meme is applicable most of the time these days. So, uh... that's fair.
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But, Just A Reminder:
You can still get a hot dog and a drink for $1.50 at Costco. It just might taste a little less garlicky than you're used to.
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It's Fine. Everything Is Fine.
I'll have a word. I'm sure they still love you.
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What Even IS A Polish Hot Dog?
I mean, I'll be honest: I had never before noticed that Costco even sold Polish hot dogs. A little research suggests that the item hasn't always been available at every Costco location across the country, so if you, like me, are wondering what the big deal is, there's a reason for that — your geographic location.
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We've Been Through This Before
The Costco food court menu has changed before. It will almost certainly change again. We've always survived.
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Hoorah For Sustainability
The straw debate is actually a little more complicated than you might think, but the inclusion of vegan options is definitely a "yay"-worthy event.
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The Move Might Bring In Some New Membrs
You actually don't need to be a Costco member to eat at the food court, but, I mean, hey, that's cool too!
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A Look Into The Future
WHAT IS THIS SORCERY.
Anyway. Mourn the loss of the Polish hot dog if you must; I feel those feels. But know, too, that there are some good things to come out of their loss as well. Variety is the spice of life, after all, right?