Foley’s retail landscape is about to expand in a big way this fall as BJ’s Wholesale Club prepares to open its doors, giving South Baldwin County its first warehouse club and a new option for bulk shopping close to home.
The new store will sit on a 14-acre site along the South Juniper Street Extension, just a block east of South McKenzie Street. Construction has been underway since a groundbreaking ceremony held on Dec. 17, 2025, and the 106,370-square-foot store is on track for an October 2026 opening.
The Foley location marks BJ’s second club in Alabama, following the company’s first store in the Huntsville area, which opened in 2023. Its arrival in Foley fills a long-requested gap in the local retail market, according to city leaders.
“This will be the first wholesale club in South Baldwin, and it means our citizens won’t have to leave Foley for this type of shopping,” said Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich.
Beyond giving residents another option for bulk goods and warehouse pricing, the project is already generating economic activity in the area. BJ’s has begun hiring for a range of positions tied to the new club, including warehouse fulfillment team members, cashiers, stock clerks and gas station staff, adding to Foley’s growing base of retail jobs.
The company has also signaled plans to get involved in the community once the store opens. Consistent with its national charitable efforts, the Foley club intends to partner with local nonprofits on hunger relief, including regular donations of produce, meat and dairy products to area food banks.
Foley has seen steady retail and residential growth in recent years as South Baldwin County continues to draw new residents and businesses, a trend city officials have pointed to in explaining the pace of development along corridors like the South Juniper Street Extension. The addition of a large-format retailer like BJ’s is expected to complement existing shopping options in the area and draw customers from surrounding communities who previously had to travel farther for warehouse-club shopping.
As the October opening date approaches, BJ’s Wholesale Club is shaping up to be one of the more significant retail additions in Foley’s recent history, giving South Baldwin County residents a new home-grown destination for bulk shopping and value pricing.