UNITED STATES-MEAT COMPANY EXPANDING.
Despite a retail industry in which few chains are thinking about opening new stores, local real estate sources say BJ’s Wholesale Club is scouting for locations in the Pittsburgh area.
Natick, Mass.-based BJ’s is a big-box buyers club that operates a business model similar to that of Costco and Sam’s Club. Its sales are growing as customers gravitate to clubs in search of discounts.
"We’re very fortunate right now to be one of the few retailers seeing positive results," said Kelly McFalls, a spokeswoman for the retailer.
McFalls wouldn’t confirm whether the company has expansion plans for the Pittsburgh area. BJ’s is opening a handful of stores this year and has virtually surrounded western Pennsylvania , operating 13 stores in the eastern part of the state as well as six in Ohio .