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The Costco membership store that opened in Nanjyo City on the 24th saw more than 1,000 people lining up, prompting an opening three and a half hours earlier than planned.
Announcer Sakiyama Yamashiro stated, “Okinawa’s first store opened at 4:30 AM, three and a half hours ahead of schedule.”
The American-born membership retail store Costco offers approximately 3,400 items. According to Costco, opening at 4:30 AM is the earliest opening they have ever had at one of their stores in Japan, marking it as the 35th location in the country.
The store featured many items at grand opening prices, including 20-pack eggs for 198 yen, which attracted a large crowd of customers.
One person who lined up since midnight said, “I came with my wife from Uruma City. We arrived around midnight,” and another who started waiting since 11:30 PM mentioned, “The main thing I’m looking for is bulgogi. I’m also looking for detergent since it’s cheap here.”
The first ones in line were twins from Haebaru Town, who finished their summer homework and started lining up at 7 AM on the 23rd. The first two said, “We feel really happy to be the first. We could shop immediately,” and “There are so many things we have never seen before, shopping was exciting.” A local elementary school student commented on the hustle and bustle, “Since it’s rural, I think it’s nice that Costco opened, but the traffic jams…”
The parking lot quickly filled up, and all the roads leading to Costco were congested.
- Shinobu Yoshihama, who devoted herself to peace education in Okinawa, has passed away.
- Traffic congestion around the opening of Costco’s first store in Okinawa