The Costco food court. A legendary battleground for bargain hunters and hungry shoppers. But victory – a $1.50 hot dog and drink – often comes with a logistical nightmare: where to *put* it while navigating the warehouse aisles?
Juleon Cotillon, a Bay Area pastry chef and dedicated Costco devotee, faced this very dilemma. Instead of a hurried, awkward meal in a forgotten aisle, he turned to a surprisingly elegant solution: 3D printing.
Cotillon leveraged his skills in AutoCAD and a Bambu Lab P1S 3D printer to design “The Buck Fifty,” a custom tray that ingeniously attaches to the back of a Costco shopping cart’s baby seat. It transforms unused space into a mobile dining station.
The design is deceptively simple, yet brilliantly effective. A secure platform cradles the hot dog, while a dedicated cupholder keeps your drink steady. It’s a haven for your Costco feast, allowing you to shop at a leisurely pace.
Considering the speed at which a Costco cart moves – or doesn’t – the tray offers a surprisingly stable perch for your snack. And let’s be honest, that hot dog rarely survives a single trip down an aisle anyway.
The project sparked immediate interest, inspiring many to consider their own customized versions. Imagine a tray emblazoned with the iconic Kirkland logo, or personalized with lettering in different languages – the possibilities are endless.
This isn’t just about convenience; it’s about reclaiming the Costco experience. It’s about savoring that legendary hot dog without sacrificing your shopping strategy. It’s a testament to ingenuity born from a very relatable problem.
