BJ’s Wholesale Club held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday at its new location in Morganton Park South shopping center in Southern Pines. The ceremony began at 9 a.m., and shovels hit the dirt by 10 a.m. following a “thank you” to the Sandhills from the much-anticipated wholesale retailer.
With development on track and progress already made on building the store itself, BJ’s is currently slated to open in “early 2025.” Development has been underway for several months now: the land was cleared, construction began, and the shell of the building has been erected.
The ceremony took place in front of said new building, with attendees invited to take a sneak peek at the shell of the sprawling new store and the “bones” of the building.
Further, the event served as more than just a milestone for the store’s opening: it also provided an opportunity to celebrate a new partnership with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina: Sandhills Branch.
Through BJ’s Charitable Foundation, the company has committed to supporting the food bank with food donations and funding. The foundation’s mission is to emphasize “critical areas such as hunger relief, education, and health and wellness, striving to make a significant impact in the communities where BJ’s operates.”
The Food Bank of CENC at Sandhills was present to vocalize their excitement for the partnership. “It’s a really great partnership for us,” Terea Kelly, director of regional development, told Sandhills Sentinel before the ceremony. “We’ll receive both funding and donations through their food salvage program.”
Representatives of BJ’s asserted that the retailer is looking forward to positively impacting the community. The new location hopes to strengthen the community through charitable efforts and bring job opportunities and convenient shopping to the Sandhills.
BJ’S Wholesale Club will be opening in the new plaza off Morganton Road, across from other recent neighboring retailers, including Target, DICK’S Sporting Goods, and Five Below.
~Article and photo by Sandhills Sentinel Assistant Editor Abegail Murphy.
