Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
- BJ's Wholesale is a membership-based warehouse club selling everything from fresh produce to furniture.
- BJ's competes with other warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's Club.
- The warehouse chain filed to go public on Thursday, with plans to trade on the New York Stock Exchange.
- We visited a BJ's Wholesale in Jersey City, New Jersey, to see what it was like to shop there.
BJ's Wholesale is a membership-based warehouse club selling groceries, clothing, furniture, and just about everything else.
BJ's competes with similar warehouse clubs Costco and Sam's Club. While the competition is tough, BJ's is showing some signs of strength. On Thursday, the warehouse chain filed to go public, with plans to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "BJ." BJ's had previously traded publicly until it made a deal with two private-equity firms to take it private in 2011, according to CNN Money.
Shopping at BJ's is a privilege exclusive to its paying members. The Online Access membership, the cheapest membership plan, costs $10 annually and gives you access to member prices on the BJ's website. The Inner Circle membership costs $55 annually, allowing you to shop in stores or online and use BJ's travel services, optical center, auto center, and more. For $110, BJ's Perks members get everything the Inner Circle members get, plus 2% cash back on purchases.
We recently visited a BJ's in Jersey City, New Jersey - here's what it's like to shop there: