<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the BJ's
Wholesale Club, Inc. consolidated statements of income and consolidated
balance sheets filed with the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 2, 1998
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            JAN-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                 MAY-2-1998
<CASH>                                          8,227
<SECURITIES>                                       95
<RECEIVABLES>                                  28,274
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0
<INVENTORY>                                   343,434
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              399,148
<PP&E>                                        550,818
<DEPRECIATION>                                149,090
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                811,255
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         269,261
<BONDS>                                        39,387
<COMMON>                                          377
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<OTHER-SE>                                    461,064
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  811,255
<SALES>                                       754,752
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              773,388
<CGS>                                         693,579
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 693,579
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               62,985
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                132
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                16,692
<INCOME-TAX>                                    6,510
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            10,182
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                   10,182
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0.27
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.27