A funny story about Costco:
About two years ago myself, another police officer, and my family to include two females, and a child, went to costco.
Now, mind you, the two of us were off duty so we simply had guns on in belt holsters. Matching glocks too. We were plain clothes, no costume, but we did have our work radios with us, as we were listening to a situation in progress in the area. So, we were walking around the store, and we hear:
"Radio to 1311 copy a Signal 54, Signal 69 at Costco..." followed by address.
Signal 54 = suspiscious person
Signal 69 = armed person
so, they go on:
"Signal 54 is going to be two males, appear hispanic, a child and two females, the two males are 69 with handguns, appear very 54 according to Costco management"
So, we looked at each other, and knew what was about to happen. With our badge & ID's in hand, we walked to the front of the store. Needless to say, several pd units arrived, and approached us. We didn't show badge or ID at first, but did have our radios in hand, 5.11 pants on, and polo shirts.
The officers looked at us, then became fairly upset at the costco employees and even said to them "WHAT EXACTLY LOOKS SUSPICIOUS ABOUT TWO GUYS WITH GUNS? ARE YOU KIDDING US?" and after we started to talk to them, a few of them actually recognized us too, we laughed it off, and ever since I have had a very low regard for Costco.
The fact of the matter is, this is Georgia...open carry by a licensed citizen is perfectly ok.. I think the costco employees were fairly surprised to see that while PD showed up very quickly, they thought the notion of two men simply shopping (with their family no less) was ludicris.
Also, the store offered no appologies to us or the responding officers.
Costco's behavior that day:
Note: That Costco, and others I have seen in Georgia do NOT have a sign up restricting firearms. Also Georgia law does not give businesses the right to use such signs. All they can do in GA is ask the person to leave.