<P> The first Costco Home warehouse opened in 1983 and was rebuilt / expanded in 2002 in Seattle . The warehouse's concept was to combine the value, setting and members - only elements of Costco's warehouse clubs with the product array one would find at an upscale home store, such as Fortunoff or Crate & Barrel . The Costco Home warehouses sold furniture, housewares, kitchen products and accessories from higher - end brands such as Lexington, Ralph Lauren and Waterford in a warehouse - club setting . Costco claimed that, similar to its main warehouses, it accepted lower margins in return for greater volume with minimal overhead . </P> <P> Over time, the concept was adjusted to include home electronics, some major appliances, office furniture, and a large selection of outdoor furniture and window treatments . Costco also partners with Glentel subsidiary WIRELESS etc. to sell mobile phones and plans in Canada and Wireless Advocates in the US . </P> <P> On April 2, 2009, the company announced that it would be abandoning its Costco Home concept, closing the two existing stores in Kirkland, Washington and Tempe, Arizona on July 3, 2009, and abandoning plans for a third store on the West Coast . The company cited cutbacks in consumer spending on home products and its interest in focusing on its core business as the main reasons . </P> <P> In 2010, Mercy for Animals conducted an undercover investigation at Buckeye Veal Farm, a veal supplier to Costco . Immediately following the investigative release, Costco adopted a policy against purchasing veal from producers that use the crate - and - chain production method . The case prompted Ohio lawmakers to vote in favor of a veal crate phase - out in the state . </P>

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