Latest News About Costco Calzone Replacement Chicago

Short answer: Costco has been testing and rolling out a chicken strips item in place of the calzone at some Chicago-area warehouses, with broader Midwest and nationwide rollout anticipated depending on performance.

Details

• What’s happening: Reports indicate the Calzone is being removed from Costco food courts in favor of a new chicken strips option, starting in Chicago-area locations and expanding to more warehouses over time.[1][2][5]
• Where this is focused: Initial testing has been concentrated in the Midwest, particularly Chicago, with expectations of a nationwide rollout if reception remains strong.[2][3][1]
• Why this shift is occurring: Costco has faced mixed reactions to the Calzone, and the company appears to be testing a simpler, potentially higher-margin item (chicken strips) to replace it.[5][7][2]
• What to expect next: If the chicken strips trend proves popular, expect more warehouses to adopt them and gradually phase out the calzone, potentially replacing the Calzone across national locations in coming weeks to months.[10][2][5]

Quick take for NYC area or latest-status check

• NYC-area Costco locations may not yet have fully adopted the new chicken strips everywhere; availability often varies by warehouse during the rollout window.[1][2]
• For the most current status at a specific New York location, it’s best to call your local Costco or check recent social posts from Costco insiders and local outlets, as changes can happen quickly in this rollout phase.[3][1]

Illustrative context

• A snapshot from mid-2026 shows Costco actively replacing a longstanding Calzone option with Chicken Strips in several Midwest warehouses, with national expansion anticipated if demand stays strong.[2][1]
• Industry coverage reinforces that this is part of Costco’s ongoing menu experimentation, which can lead to rapid changes at certain locations before a full nationwide shift is completed.[4][7]

If you’d like, I can pull the latest warehouse-by-warehouse status for a specific Chicago-area location or your nearest Costco and summarize what’s currently available there. I can also monitor for updates and provide a concise weekly status report.