Jeff Brotman, who co-founded and chaired the retail giant Costco, a chain of members-only warehouses known for selling affordably priced bulk goods that range from hummus to mattresses, died Aug. 1 at his home in Medina, Wash. He was 74.

A spokesman for Costco Wholesale Corp. confirmed his death but did not know the cause.

Mr. Brotman opened Costco’s first warehouse with Jim Sinegal in 1983 in Seattle. He said the idea for the company originated with his father, Bernie Brotman, a retailer who — along with his brothers — operated 18 stores in Washington and Oregon.

Mr. Brotman received crucial financing for the company months before opening his first warehouse when he met venture capitalist Fred Paulsell on a flight to Seattle that was struck by lightning and made an emergency landing in San Francisco.

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They talked about opening a chain of low-cost warehouse clubs, and Paulsell soon came on as a partner.

Based in Issaquah, Wash., the company now operates 736 warehouses around the world, including 511 in the United States and Puerto Rico.

"When he and Jim Sinegal started it, everyone thought it was a tough sale because so many warehouse clubs had failed," ­Costco board member John Meisenbach told Bloomberg . "They stuck to their guns in not trying to be a fancy place, and they took care of their employees."

Jeffrey Hart Brotman was born in Tacoma, Wash., on Sept. 27, 1942. He studied political science at the University of Washington in Seattle, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1964 and received a law degree in 1967.

Mr. Brotman later served as a regent at the university.

Mr. Brotman briefly practiced law and operated companies such as Bottoms, a women’s jean store, before founding Costco.

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He was also an early investor in Starbucks, and he was a major supporter of Democratic political campaigns. In 2012, he hosted a fundraising luncheon for President Barack Obama at his home in Medina.

Along with Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz, Mr. Brotman also hosted a $5,000-a-plate fundraising event in 2000 for the Democratic vice presidential nominee, Joseph I. Lieberman. He endorsed Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in 2016.

Survivors include his wife of 41 years, the former Susan Thrailkill, a former Nordstrom executive; two children; a brother; and two grandchildren.

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