We Drove 4 Hours to the Costco Business Center in Hackensack, NJ — Was It Worth It?

6-minute read

Would you drive four hours just to go to Costco?

My family did!

Over Labor Day weekend, we packed up the family, grabbed our coolers, and left Northern Virginia before the sun came up to drive to the Costco Business Center in Hackensack, New Jersey.

Now, before you think we've completely lost it, there's a story behind why we drove FOUR HOURS to go grocery shopping.

And this actually wasn't our first trip!

We Discovered the Hackensack Costco Business Center by Accident

We were in New Jersey over Memorial Day weekend when we found out there was a Costco Business Center in Hackensack.

I'm originally from Washington State, so I was already very familiar with Costco Business Centers. I was used to shopping at the Business Center in Fife, Washington, and honestly, I missed having one nearby.

After moving to Northern Virginia, I was disappointed to find out there wasn't a Business Center anywhere close to us. For our part of the East Coast, our options meant traveling north to New Jersey or heading WAY south to Georgia.

So when we realized there was one in Hackensack while we were already in New Jersey for Memorial Day weekend, of course we had to go!

And that's when we realized we needed to come back.

Why We Went Back Over Labor Day Weekend

Our Memorial Day visit was more of a "let's see what they have" trip.

And then we started seeing all the refrigerated and frozen items.

That's when I immediately started thinking about all the things we could stock up on if we had coolers with us.

So we decided we'd come back prepared.

Fast-forward to Labor Day weekend.

This time, we brought the family, packed our coolers and made the Costco Business Center the destination.

We left Northern Virginia before sunrise, and I have to say, the drive up was actually really nice.

There was hardly anyone on the road. We watched the sun come up during the drive and had a pretty peaceful trip all the way to Hackensack.

What Is a Costco Business Center?

If you've never been to a Costco Business Center, you're probably wondering what makes it different from the regular Costco you already shop at.

The biggest thing you'll notice is that the products are geared more toward businesses, restaurants and convenience stores.

That means BIG quantities.

But here's the thing: you don't have to own a restaurant or business to shop there.

If you're already a Costco member, you can shop at a Costco Business Center with your regular membership.

That's one of the reasons I think they're worth checking out, especially if you have a larger family like we do.

A lot of the products are also different from what you'll find at your neighborhood Costco, so it doesn't feel like you're just walking through a larger version of the same store.

What We Found at the Hackensack Costco Business Center

This is where things get fun.

When you're feeding a family of six, you look at some of these giant packages a little differently.

So. Much. Rice.

The rice selection was one of the things that stood out to me.

There were HUGE bags of rice and so many different varieties.

If your family eats a lot of rice or you like buying pantry staples in bulk, this is definitely an area worth checking out.

Giant Containers of Spices

Then there were the spices.

Garlic powder. Onion powder. Paprika. And plenty of other seasonings in those giant containers you normally associate with restaurants.

We cook a lot at home, so these are exactly the kinds of things that make sense for us to buy in larger quantities.

Meat, Meat and More Meat

This was one of the big reasons we came back with coolers.

There were large boxes of chicken and a much larger variety of meat than what I'm used to seeing at our regular Costco.

I'm talking 40 lb boxes of chicken thighs for $37.99, drumsticks for $27.59, and wings for $55.59! For the ENTIRE box!

Of course, buying meat in those quantities means you need a plan when you get home.

For us, that means portioning it out and getting it into the freezer.

And when you have a family of six, having meat already stocked in the freezer makes meal planning SO much easier.

Snacks We Don't See at Our Local Costco

The snack selection was another fun surprise.

There were quite a few things that I don't normally see at our Northern Virginia Costco locations.

Some of the products are clearly packaged with convenience stores and businesses in mind, but that can also be perfect for families—especially if you're packing lunches, feeding teenagers or just trying to keep everyone from telling you there's "nothing to eat" five minutes after you went grocery shopping.

And Then I Found the Water...

I was really surprised by the bottled water selection.

They had so many different kinds, including Mountain Valley Spring Water!

That was definitely one of my happy finds.

Sometimes it's the little things.

Costco Business Center Hackensack Hours & What to Know Before You Go

One of my favorite things about the Business Center is how early you can shop.

The Hackensack Costco Business Center opens at 7:00 AM and closes at 6:00 PM, seven days a week, although holiday closures can apply.

This matters, especially when you have a four-hour drive ahead of you—that's a huge plus.

If you're thinking about making the drive, here are a few things I'd keep in mind:

• Your regular Costco membership gives you access to the Business Center.
• The Hackensack Business Center normally opens at 7 AM.
• If you're coming from Northern Virginia, be prepared for about a four-hour drive depending on where you're starting and traffic.
• Bring coolers if you plan on buying refrigerated or frozen foods. They have bags of ice you can purchase for a reasonable price. I paid $7.47 for three bags.
• Make sure you have freezer and pantry space BEFORE you go.
• Make a list, but give yourself time to explore because you'll probably find things you weren't expecting.

And one more thing: if you're making a trip around a holiday, check the store hours before you leave.

Is Costco Business Center Actually Cheaper?

This is probably the most important question if you're considering driving several hours to get there.

For us, we saved quite a bit.

But I wouldn't assume that every giant package is automatically a great deal.

I still compare prices and think about how much we're actually getting. I also ask myself whether it's something we're really going to use.

Buying 40 pounds of something isn't saving money if 10 pounds of it ends up going to waste.

But there are six of us.

Our definition of "buying in bulk" might look a little different than it does for a household of two.

Things like meat, rice, seasonings, snacks, and other staples that we already use are where buying larger quantities can make sense.

Was Driving Four Hours From Northern Virginia Worth It?

For us, yes.

And remember, we'd already been there once.

Our Memorial Day trip gave us the chance to look around and figure out what the Business Center had. Our Labor Day trip was different because we went there specifically to stock up.

This time we were prepared.

We had the coolers. We knew what kinds of things we wanted to look for. And we had six people to help get everything back home!

Would I make an eight-hour round trip to Costco every month?

Absolutely not.

But twice a year?

I think so.

For our family of six, I can see us making a big Costco Business Center stock-up trip at least twice a year.

If we plan it correctly, stock the freezer, grab pantry staples, and buy the things that give us the biggest savings, it makes sense for our family.

Plus, I love a good road trip anyway, so that probably helps! Who doesn't love getting a glimpse of NYC?!

Come With Us to the Hackensack Costco Business Center

Want to see what the trip actually looked like?

We documented our Labor Day weekend drive from Northern Virginia to Hackensack and some of the things we found once we got inside.

It was an early morning, with a LOT of driving.

But I'd do it again.

Now I want to hear from you.

Have you been to a Costco Business Center?

If you had to take a 4-hour drive to go to the Costco Business Center, would you?

And if you've already made the trip, I REALLY want to know: What do you always buy when you go?

See you next time!

Saving With Six