Last Post For The Night -- Most Important Story Of The Year? April 8, 2021

Signs that Costco thinks the pandemic is over. And if Costco thinks the pandemic is over, the pandemic is over. 

Link here to  CNN:

Costco diehards, don't fret: The beloved food court, known for its $1.50 hot dog and soda combo and giant menu boards, is coming back to life, albeit slowly.

Costco shut down seating areas in food courts when the pandemic spread through the United States last March. It pared back the menu to hot dogs and pizza for takeout only. 

Signs of life started to emerge in the summer when the chicken bake returned. Now, the return to normal is gaining steam. Costco recently began adding back ice cream and smoothies to the menu and is bringing back tables and chairs in stores that have outdoor seating areas. The company also is bringing back churros to the menu and plans to resume indoor seating as more states loosen Covid-19 safety restrictions.

This story caught my eye. I was in our local Costco on Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. I've never seen it so busy. Masks were still required, but that was about the only pandemic-related precaution. Folks were streaming in. Check-out lines stretched to the back of the store. As I walked out, I noted that the indoor food court was not back to normal, but folks were standing in long lines to order their drinks, hot dogs, and pizza. I thought it would be just a matter of time before the food court was re-opened at pre-pandemic standards.