BJ's Wholesale Store Expansion Remains On Track
BJ’s Wholesale Club remains on track with its store expansion efforts as the retailer moves forward with plans to open eight new locations by the end of 2025.
With its newest store in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, now open, BJ’s Wholesale will open a new location in Warner Robins, Georgia, in early September, with seven more new clubs to follow in the fourth quarter. The Mechanicsburg store is a relocation from a previous BJ’s store in the Susquehanna Valley.
“Our teams did an amazing job executing the transition plan, and early feedback is that our members love their brand new home,” said Bob Eddy, chairman and CEO of BJ’s Wholesale Club, during the company’s recent conference call to discuss second-quarter results. “Mechanicsburg joins a class of new clubs that continue to exceed expectations, with the clubs on the maturity curve comping about three times the rate of the tenured base.”
Looking toward 2026, Eddy said BJ’s pipeline of clubs remains “stronger than it has been in years.” Plans call for between 25 and 30 new clubs over the next two years, which includes the company’s entry into the Dallas-Fort Worth market in 2026.
Expansion into North Texas was announced in March and is part of the company’s push west in recent years. More recently, BJ’s has opened stores in Tennessee and Kentucky and is constructing a new distribution center in Commercial Point, Ohio, which is set to open in 2027.
BJ’s continued store growth follows a second quarter that saw revenue grow 3.4% to $5.38 billion. This included net sales growth of 3.2% to $5.27 billion, and a 9% increase in membership fee income to $123.3 million. The retailer during the quarter hit the 8 million member mark.
During the quarter, BJ’s perishables grocery and sundries division drove growth with comparable growth of 3%. Eddy said investments made in both Fresh 2.0 and its category management process have driven continued share gains across consumables.
“We saw the most strength in perishable categories like dairy, meat, and fresh produce,” he said. “The investments we’ve made in our Fresh 2.0 capabilities continue to deliver value for the company and our members, and we’re building on these gains as we expand our efforts to our meat and seafood franchises.”
General merchandise and services businesses were down 2.2% on a comparable basis, as weather and other macro factors had a negative impact. Apparel was a bright spot, as the segment’s comparable sales were up low single digits despite weather headwinds.
