Key keywords: Costco food court calzone, 2024 Costco menu update, Costco member backlash, discontinued Costco calzone, Costco food court new releases, Costco customer feedback, pepperoni pizza melt replacement After months of widespread criticism from loyal members, Costco has officially announced it will pull the much-maligned food court calzone from all U.S. locations by the end of October 2024, replacing it with a new pepperoni pizza melt that received glowing reviews during limited regional testing. The calzone first launched nationwide in March 2024 as part of the warehouse chain’s effort to expand its warm, portable food court offerings, but it quickly became one of the most reviled menu items in recent Costco history. Members took to social media platforms including Reddit, TikTok, and official Costco Facebook groups to share their complaints: many reported the $9.99 calzone had a thick, dry, often undercooked crust, barely a tablespoon of savory filling, and cooled down so quickly it was unpalatable by the time shoppers got to their cars. Thousands of formal feedback submissions were sent to Costco’s customer service team, with 78% of respondents to an internal member survey saying they would never purchase the calzone again. For its part, Costco has long prioritized member input when making food court decisions, a core value that has kept its iconic $1.50 hot dog and soda combo unchanged for over 30 years despite rising inflation. A spokesperson for the chain noted that the new pepperoni pizza melt, priced at $8.99, was tested across 120 locations in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest over the summer, with 92% of testers saying they would purchase the item regularly. The new menu item features a crispy, thin folded crust stuffed with sliced pepperoni, low-moisture mozzarella cheese, a dollop of house marinara sauce, and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning, served hot immediately after preparation. Costco also noted that it will continue to monitor member feedback on all food court items, and has not ruled out further menu adjustments in 2025 based on popular demand. The phased rollout of the pepperoni pizza melt began on October 1, with 60% of U.S. Costco locations already offering the replacement as of mid-October, and all locations expected to fully transition away from the calzone by October 31.