I'm sure there are a few different store layout concepts over time. However you don't need a membership at Costco to eat at the food court or use the pharmacy, purchase alcohol in some states so if we applied the "Ikea" model those would be in the back to have someone "see" all the things they are missing by not being a member. For the paper towels, toilet paper, drinks they are probably regularly stocked items which if you were unloading tucks full of them you wouldn't want to be moving huge quantities all the way to the front of the store. Lastly, i'm sure its also a combination of flow control. Get everyone to the back of the store then filter toward the front building some buffers in line queue volume and getting bunched up in one single area. If you walk in the door and thats where the paper towels, toilet paper, milk, etc is then just getting in the store would be a problem.
All speculation of course, but to me the "Ikea" model didn't seem to fit.
All speculation of course, but to me the "Ikea" model didn't seem to fit.