BJ's Wholesale Club moves into Gainesville
By Michelle Baker
Neither below-freezing temperatures, nor ice and snow could keep the customers from the opening of BJ’s Wholesale Club last Saturday. The parking lot and checkout lanes were crowded with customers getting their first peek at the new club in town.Sales representatives had been recruiting around the area and outside the store for weeks, signing up customers and sharing tantalizing tidbits and special pre-opening offers but no tours.
The fresh crop of BJ’s members was ready to check it out for themselves on Saturday. The 80,000-square-foot club offers everything from organic meat to electronics, vitamins and clothes.
Headquartered in Westborough, Mass., BJ's claims it can save shoppers more than 30 percent off supermarket prices on a weekly shopping trip. For coupon shoppers, the wholesale prices, along with getting to use manufacturer’s coupons plus store coupons, is a big draw.
Sue O’Hara spent $250 during her first trip on Jan. 23. The Gainesville resident, a former Costco member, said she came to join and check out the prices.
“I’ll pay three cents more for paper towels to not have to drive into Manassas,” she said. “Getting into Manassas is a pain.”
Bristow resident Joyce Sullivan joined on Saturday and brought back a “potential member” on Monday. “It seems very, very nice,” said Sullivan. “The deli was very impressive compared to Costco.” Sullivan brought her friend Taania Hendrix on a shopping expedition on Monday to show her around before she decided to join.
“Their prices were definitely better than the groceries,” said Haymarket resident Brenda Jackson, who also holds a Costco membership, as she loaded her car with everything from meats to a multipurpose tower rack. When asked if the latter was a planned purchase, she smiled and said, “I saw it and bought it.”
The official grand opening takes place this Saturday and Sunday. The weekend will be dedicated to showing existing and potential members the floor plan and sales with some family entertainment and lots of food, according to Ashley Prescott, spokesperson for the Gainesville site.
Located at 5100 Wellington Road, the club is part of The Promenade at Virginia Gateway and will be neighbors with a new Regal 14-screen theater slated to open in 2013.
A special invitation-only grand opening celebration and breakfast is planned for Jan. 28.
The new Gainesville club has partnered with the Tyler Elementary School as part of BJ’s Adopt-a-School program. The school will receive a monetary donation, a shopping cart full of wish list items and a free BJ’s membership, according to Prescott.
BJ’s also plans to announce partnerships with the Transitional Housing BARN and the SERVE shelters.
Thorough BJ’s Feeding Communities program, the club will also provide excess produce, meat and fish to the Capital Area Food Bank. Unsold bakery items will be donated to SERVE and the House of Mercy on a weekly basis.
Prior to the opening, BJ’s employees canvassed local businesses recruiting newcomers.
Gainesville residents Tony Finley and his wife, Katie, the owners of Manassas Asphalt, spent their Saturday night checking out the new club together.
After a BJ’s staffer stopped by their business, the Manassas Asphalt vice-president and business manager said she decided to purchase a membership even though the company office sits a couple blocks from Costco. Prior to stopping and shopping, Finley said her mother in Pennsylvania, a former BJs customer, wasn’t a big fan but she liked the fact that you can get smaller sizes at BJ's than at some other wholesalers.
But after several hours spent walking around and shopping, her mind wasn’t made up
“We did buy a few things but mainly went to check it out,” said Finley. “Since we have a business membership at Costco, the jury is still out for us on which is better.”
She added the store was great for bulk household grocery and cleaning, but didn’t have automotive and tools or a large office supply area, which is important to them.
“It’s also nice that you can use any credit card and they accept all coupons, not just their own, and you can use multiple coupons for the same item,” she said.
It may take a while for some area residents to warm up to the new Gainesville business.
“I was not excited when I heard BJ’s was coming to Gainesville,” said Haymarket resident Carol Seely, who had hoped the Virginia Gateway center would have a more unique feel.
Jaci Novak of Haymarket agreed adding she really wished the area could be a destination for something other than the same old chain restaurants and big box stores.
Customers can join in person, online at www.bjs.com/gainesville, or by calling 800-BJS-CLUB. A one-day shopping pass is available online at www.bjs.com, which allows a potential customer to pay posted prices plus a 15 percent surcharge.
The surcharge is deducted from a club membership price if a membership is purchased within seven days.
The store is open Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.