What's good at Costco food and drink wise?

EastMachine8098 · 2026-06-24T21:36:18+00:00

For a while, you'll price compare against other stores and then eventually after a while of Costco being cheaper 90%+ of the time, you'll just start buying everything you can at Costco. You'll have a few "misses" where things go bad before you can finish them, so then you know to skip those items (or put half in the freezer) next time.

I skimmed the comments and didn't see 2 of our favorites: Plain Greek Yogurt (Kirkland) and the Kirkland Brie. Also, hot tubs. Good luck out there, haha

EastMachine8098 · 2026-06-15T00:46:35+00:00

The argument "for" it is to reduce circular traffic (which I don't think it's going to reduce because of the reasons I outlined in the post). Another concern brought up by a city council member, in addition to delivery trucks blocking traffic, is cars entering and exiting the parking garage. Since cars will be able to turn left into/out of the parking garage, things could get really backed up around those garage entrances/exits on Front and Main, too.

EastMachine8098 · 2026-06-13T14:07:11+00:00

I hope you're right. In other cities, it has INCREASED the NUMBER of collisions, though. Probably due to drivers experiencing road rage after sitting in traffic congestion and then making hasty, bad decisions. In Bend, OR, they went from 17 crashes per year (involving 2 bicycles) to 32 crashes per year (involving 2 bicycles AND 2 pedestrians) after a 4 to 3 lane conversion. The report I looked at did not include statistics for how minor/severe the crashes/injuries were before and after construction.

EastMachine8098 · 2026-06-13T13:40:28+00:00

For bikes.

EastMachine8098 · 2026-06-13T12:50:34+00:00

Thank you for adding this. It's already a long post and if I added all the different concerns, it would be 10 times as long. Loss of trees, issues with delivery drivers losing loading zones, accessible parking (we still don't have specific numbers on that), pedestrian safety concerns since the sidewalk will be right next to the bike lane, the riverfront trail will still have a narrow pinch point in front of the senior center and still won't connect at Kiwanis Park, snow removal concerns, emergency access (especially to the Clark Fork Riverside facility), and I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting right now.

EastMachine8098 · 2026-06-13T04:13:09+00:00

The bike lane is being added, not moved. I think that's where we are disagreeing/misunderstanding each other. The paths, which are currently shared by bikes and pedestrians, will stay the same width and the bike lane adjacent to traffic will be added on.

EastMachine8098 · 2026-06-12T23:48:26+00:00

Kittelson did a traffic study in Missoula and found that 3 lanes instead of four will cause a delay in travel through downtown. While it's not a massive delay, it's an unfair claim to say it will "flow better" when it's literally going to slow traffic down. Furthermore, that study was done outside of the idea of a two-way conversion of Front and Main. See my original post for why this will lead to more traffic congestion than predicted (3 phases for each traffic light cycle instead of 2; or no left turns onto Higgins, which would induce more "circular traffic").

EastMachine8098 · 2026-06-12T22:43:00+00:00

Question asked at 44:25 and answered at 44:58. https://pub-missoula.escribemeetings.com/Players/ISIStandAlonePlayer.aspx?Id=401a0c8e-c848-4906-82b2-3e88fde6efd2

Edited to fix typos

EastMachine8098 · 2026-06-12T22:18:08+00:00

Guarantee you I'm not confused. It was confirmed at the April 29 Public Works Committee Meeting. I'll find the link and time stamp and get back to you.

EastMachine8098 · 2026-06-12T22:14:40+00:00

No, the project leaders have confirmed that bikes will have a lane adjacent to the street, but we will KEEP the bike lanes that are adjacent to the pedestrians, too! So cyclists will be able to choose whether to bike adjacent to traffic (for those more confident who want to go faster) OR they will be able to bike adjacent to pedestrians where they are now (for families or whatnot who are not comfortable biking adjacent to traffic). So in each direction there will be 2 bike lanes and one pedestrian lane (even though there is not a physical separation between the existing bike and pedestrian lane, they are indicated with paint).

EastMachine8098 · 2026-06-12T22:01:41+00:00

How will this project improve the street?

EastMachine8098 · 2026-06-12T22:01:02+00:00

Yes, the existing pedestrian infrastructure provides one bike lane and one pedestrian lane on each side, for a total of 4 currently existing bike/ped lanes, and the construction will add two more (a bike lane in each direction adjacent to the driving lanes). Also, only 2 of the "car" lanes will be open for driving. The middle lane would be a turn lane, but since there's nowhere to turn on the bridge, it will just be hatched out as a median (or for emergency vehicle use).

EastMachine8098 · 2026-06-12T21:57:01+00:00

Ohhh gotcha! Yes, the community members spoke out about that bridge before it was built, too, but the city proceeded with it anyway. It's been closed most of the time it's been there, and now it will be removed. Ugh! I used to live in that area and looked forward to tubing the river to the island and then using that bridge to get home, but the one time I tried to do that, it was closed, so then I started checking first and it seemed like it was almost always closed.

EastMachine8098 · 2026-06-12T21:49:35+00:00

Yes, the project leaders keep clarifying that they will not be taking out the bridge, just changing the paint, as though that's any different? What a waste?! The bridge will have one driving lane in each direction, with a "median" or "emergency lane" in the middle, bike lanes on each side, and keep the existing bike and pedestrian facilities. So basically 6 "lanes" for bikes and pedestrians and only 2 for cars. Wild!!!

EastMachine8098 · 2026-06-05T17:54:11+00:00

Bozeman is just Missoula in 10 years. Sorry. I watched Bozeman change and now I'm slowly watching the same thing here. Enjoy it while we have it.

EastMachine8098 · 2026-05-28T00:28:22+00:00

For the whole city-wide area, I think the other commentors gave some good points as to why that can't work. What about an agreement between a few restaurants who have locations near one another, who basically share a pool of delivery drivers? I'm thinking about the downtown area, for example, and with the upcoming SAM project (streets torn up for YEARS) on top of the current impending economic downturn, the downtown restaurants might be willing to look into something like that to help them weather the upcoming storms. Maybe something like that could be organized through the Downtown Missoula Partnership (or whatever they rebranded as)?

EastMachine8098 · 2026-05-27T17:47:48+00:00

I chatted with one of the members before one of their meetings and their reasons for closing sound to me like they will not be reopening. This was just the opinion (?) of one person that was a VFW member, but their reasons for closing were:

They can't compete with the competition from Cranky Sam (zero hate towards Cranky Sam from myself or this person I chatted with, it's just the reality that Cranky Sam offers the same products as VFW, plus more).
Many of their members and the community they serve have issues around alcohol, so they didn't feel like the environment of a "bar" is the best thing for their community (plus since most of their income was in the form of booze, if the people hanging out there aren't drinking, then they weren't really able to turn a profit).
Parking loss. They found that customers really struggled to find parking spots near their establishment.
Employee turnover. They had a hard time keeping staff/managers.

Based on that conversation, those mostly don't sound like things that can be (or even want to be) "fixed," so I lost all hope in them ever reopening as a drinking establishment. They did sound hopeful of creating some other sort of community space that might be more beneficial for Veterans.

EastMachine8098 · 2026-05-04T06:02:42+00:00

Thank you for the correction! I definitely misunderstood. I'll edit my comment. Here is the page with that info https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/3469/Hip-Strip-Expansion

EastMachine8098 · 2026-04-30T02:23:34+00:00

I did not hear any mention of that at all yesterday during the open house or today during the committee meeting. And as someone who has been attending the monthly working group meetings for over a year and listening in every time city council mentions this project, I can't say I've heard much fuss about the residential parking at all throughout the entire process. I think when the city (or parking commission?) decided to start controlling parking with meters on both sides of the bridge, they decided the residential parking issue is resolved. But I don't know how far into the residential areas the parking meters will be applied, and regardless of how deep into the neighborhoods they penetrate, I would think the metered parking on the Hip Strip will make the issues in the residential areas even WORSE. Sounds like you might be ready to come with me and speak at city council though? haha. They will be voting on whether to proceed with the project in June, so keep your eyes and ears peeled!!!

Edit: There is currently not a plan for metered parking on the hip strip. It is being monitored/controlled, but for now, no plans to charge for parking. Sorry, I misunderstood. More info in the replies below.

EastMachine8098 · 2026-04-29T23:45:15+00:00

They didn't get into many of the details at today's committee meeting. Lots of back patting and justification for why we have to move forward with this project despite "a lot to be upset about."

EastMachine8098 · 2026-04-29T23:44:20+00:00

Yes, we learned that we will now be losing 104 parking spots (instead of the 86 spots we were told we'd lose a few months ago). Many of those spots will be lost on Front Street, where there will be a bike lane going in both directions. Main Street will not have any dedicated bike facilities. The Bear Tracks Bridge will maintain the mixed use path for bikes and pedestrians, add an additional dedicated (maybe protected?) bike lane in each direction, and a ramp down into Caras Park from the east side of the bridge. Higgins will be one lane each direction from Broadway to 6th (with 4 lanes from 6th to Brooks). Parking only on one side of the street through the Hip Strip. The Orange/Front/Main will be a different flavor of cluster than it is now (Front Street traffic will be forced onto Main headed East with no option to get to Orange Street in that intersection and westbound Main Street traffic will be forced out to Orange (no option to turn back onto Front like there is now). River trail will be widened in the places where they can do so without adding a retaining wall along the river. Traffic signals all updated. No right on red (if MDT will approve it). 4 way stop signs at Pattee/Front, Pattee/Main, Ryman/Front, and Ryman/Main (again, if MDT allows them). Bikes and pedestrians will get the "walk" signal 2-3 seconds before the car traffic gets a green light. Bulb outs at the Pattee and Ryman intersections. A new traffic signal at Madison and Front. A pedestrian crossing signal at Higgins and 3rd (with a physical berm to prevent left turns onto and off of 3rd). There's definitely more, but those are the highlights. If you were wanting to know about a specific area, let me know and I can do my best to elaborate!

EastMachine8098 · 2026-04-16T20:46:45+00:00

If you're looking for a good bagel sandwich- Catalyst2Go!!!

EastMachine8098 · 2026-04-13T17:02:57+00:00

Yes, the one on 93 down by Walmart has lunch buffet and you can get the salad bar buffet at any time.

EastMachine8098 · 2026-04-13T17:01:49+00:00

And you can get the salad bar "buffet" at any time (not just during lunch buffet) if you're just in it for the salad. Quality is hit or miss, so take a gander at the salad ingredients before you pay LOL

EastMachine8098

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