Costco is opening the door for more deserving small businesses!
What started as a kitchen experiment in a D.C. home has now made its way into the aisles of one of the biggest retailers in the country. Capital City Mambo Sauce, the Black-owned brand preserving and pushing forward the legacy of D.C.’s most iconic condiment, is officially available in Costco stores across the DMV.
Founded by Arsha and her late husband, Charles Jones, Capital City was born from a deep love of home and flavor. For those who know, mambo sauce isn’t just something you put on chicken wings. It’s a full-on experience for all things edible. A taste tied to late-night carryouts, corner store runs, and family meals that fed more than just bellies. It’s the unofficial sauce of Washington, D.C., and prior to Capital City’s retail expansion to grocery stores and big box retail, you could only get it if you were in the know.
Now, Capital City is expanding its footprint thanks to Costco.
“We’re incredibly grateful to continue partnering with Costco locations in the D.C. Metro area. Capital City was built to share the culture and flavor of D.C. with the world. Thank you to our DMV family for believing in us — and to Costco for recognizing that excellence has roots, and making space for it,” said founder Arsha Jones.
While some major retailers have stepped back from supporting diverse brands, Costco continues to lead by example. That matters—especially in a city like D.C., where culture and community are everything. Supporting businesses rooted in this kind of heritage isn’t a trend, it’s a reflection of what an inclusive economy should look like. When a company like Costco shows up with intention, it sets a powerful example for others to follow.
Capital City has never been just about sauce. It’s about connection. It’s about honoring the small, family-owned D.C. carryouts that made mambo sauce a staple. It’s about pouring tradition into every bottle and making sure that generations to come know exactly where it came from.
So yes, it’s a condiment. But it’s also a cultural artifact. A reminder that flavor is a form of storytelling. And in this chapter, the story just got a whole lot better.
You can now find Capital City Mambo Sauce at select Costco locations in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Visit capitalcity.com for more.
Cover photo: Black-Owned Capital City Mambo Sauce Expands to Costco Shelves/ Photo Credit: Capital City