Costco Wholesale is a massive American membership-only warehouse club that has grown to become the world's third-largest retailer and the top seller of beef, poultry, organic produce, and wine. The company's origins trace back to 1976 when Sol Price founded the Price Club in San Diego, but the official Costco brand launched when Jim Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman opened the first warehouse in Seattle on September 15, 1983. Initially targeting small businesses with bulk goods, Costco later expanded to individual consumers and introduced its famous private-label brand, Kirkland Signature, named after its former headquarters location. In 1993, Costco merged with Price Club to form PriceCostco, creating universal memberships that allowed customers to shop at both chains. Today, Costco operates 924 warehouses worldwide (85% in North America), is ranked 12th on the Fortune 500, and serves nearly a third of all American consumers, with its corporate headquarters now located in Issaquah, Washington.