BJ’s to open new club in Florida on Friday

BJ’s Wholesale Club will open its 36th Florida club in Davenport on Friday, bringing the Marlborough, Massachusetts-based club’s count to 236 stores now operating across 18 states.

But that state count is about to change as BJ’s announced last week that it will open in La Vergne, Tennessee, 20 miles southeast of downtown Nashville in Rutherford County. The club is expected to open in the first half of the year.  BJ’s is also planning its entrance into Alabama, according to townmadison.com a local Madison, Alabama, website announcing a BJ’s “coming soon” to 165 Graphics Drive in Madison. BJ’s did not respond to a request to comment on the new club.

With an aggressive expansion strategy, BJ’s made history last year with its third-quarter profits as same-store sales increased 9.7% year-over-year. BJ’s, which selected Capital One Financial as the issuer of the wholesaler’s co-branded Mastercard, will launch its new credit cards next week.

Looking to not only drive short-term gains but position itself for longer-term success with its footprint expansion, BJ’s newest Florida club will be located at 6360 Grandview Parkway. The club will have a BJ’s gas station, fresh foods and produce, a full-service deli, household essentials, pet supplies and the retailer’s signature "treasure-hunt experience" for BJ’s members. Curbside pickup, ExpressPay and same-day delivery will also be available, BJ’s said in a statement.

“Bringing BJ’s one-stop shop experience into the Davenport community is a wonderful way to kick off 2023,” said Theodore Kyriakidis, club manager of Davenport’s BJ’s Wholesale Club, in a statement. “We couldn’t be more eager to engage with our smart-saving families in the area, welcome them to this brand-new location, and continue to build upon our strong presence in Florida.”

Until Thursday, the club is offering a founding member offer for local shoppers interested in joining the club.. Local shoppers can sign up for a one-year BJ’s Inner Circle membership for $25. BJ’s said it is also offering local shoppers a one-year BJ’s Perks Rewards membership with BJ’s Easy Renewal for $65.

Other wholesale clubs such as Walmart-owned Sam’s Club, US Foods-owned CHEF’STORE and Grocery Outlet also continue to dominate as shoppers continue to look for ways to stretch their dollars.

“As the U.S. saw another month-over-month bump in food prices in January, sophisticated pricing becomes more critical than ever —both to the retailer and to the customer. Inflation is inherently a pricing challenge and merits a pricing response that is analytically-informed and customer-focused to ensure that margin is protected while offering the best prices to consumers on the most important products,” said Matt Pavich, senior director of retail innovation for Revionics, an AI solutions provider for pricing, promotions, markdowns and competitive insight.