BJ’s Wholesale Club breaks ground on Chattanooga store
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Chunky, the BJ's mascot, is joined, from left, by Jeannie Carpenter of the Chattanooga Food Bank, Tony Holmes of the Chattanooga Food Bank, Kirk Saville of BJ's Wholesale Club, and Karen McKinney of the Chattanooga Food Bank, as they break ground. BJ's Wholesale Club broke ground April 30, 2025, for its new location in Chattanooga at the former Sears at Northgate Mall. Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Chunky, the BJ's mascot, is joined, from left, by Jeannie Carpenter of the Chattanooga Food Bank, Tony Holmes of the Chattanooga Food Bank, Kirk Saville of BJ's Wholesale Club, and Karen McKinney of the Chattanooga Food Bank, as they break ground. BJ's Wholesale Club broke ground April 30, 2025, for its new location in Chattanooga at the former Sears at Northgate Mall.
By David Floyd 5 min read
BJ’s Wholesale Club, an outlet offering membership discounts on gas and groceries, expects to open a 100,000-square-foot store at Northgate Mall this winter.
“We’re unique in the club store space in that we have more fresh produce — meat, deli, bakery — than some of our competitors,” spokesperson Kirk Saville said in an interview Wednesday. “What you’ll find is a lot of our members will do their weekly grocery shopping with us, and then they’ll do the treasure hunt. They’ll find new clothes, a TV — all of those items that they want.”
BJ’s Wholesale Club held a formal groundbreaking for the project Wednesday morning. The company is running a special “founding member” offer for Chattanooga customers at $40 for the year, Saville said, which enables them to save money on gas and up to 25% on groceries.
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / The remainder of Northgate Mall looms in the background as the groundbreaking ceremony nears. BJ’s Wholesale Club broke ground April 30, 2025, for its new location in Chattanooga at the former Sears at Northgate Mall.Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / The BJ’s Wholesale staff dresses Chunky, the business’s mascot, prior to the groundbreaking. BJ’s Wholesale Club broke ground April 30, 2025, for its new location in Chattanooga at the former Sears at Northgate Mall.In this photograph provided by Janelle Favaloro, a woodpecker rests on a pick-up truck door, admiring its reflection in the sideview mirror, outside a home during April 2025, in Rockport, Mass. (Janelle Favaloro photo via AP)Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / BJ’s spokesperson Kirk Saville discusses the plans for the site. BJ’s Wholesale Club broke ground April 30, 2025, for its new location in Chattanooga at the former Sears at Northgate Mall.Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / EMJ Construction equipment moves the earth for the groundbreaking. BJ’s Wholesale Club broke ground April 30, 2025, for its new location in Chattanooga at the former Sears at Northgate Mall.Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Chattanooga Food Bank Chief Communications Officer Jeannie Carpenter discusses how BJ’s Wholesale Club will help the local charity. BJ’s Wholesale Club broke ground April 30, 2025, for its new location in Chattanooga at the former Sears at Northgate Mall.Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Officials from BJ’s Wholesale Club, the Chattanooga Food Bank and EMJ Construction break ground. BJ’s Wholesale Club broke ground April 30, 2025, for its new location in Chattanooga at the former Sears at Northgate Mall.
