<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 August 1, 1998
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            JAN-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                 AUG-1-1998
<CASH>                                          9,361
<SECURITIES>                                       97
<RECEIVABLES>                                  33,905
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0
<INVENTORY>                                   350,562
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              413,381
<PP&E>                                        563,725
<DEPRECIATION>                                158,770
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                828,820
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         291,732
<BONDS>                                        14,643
<COMMON>                                          377
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<OTHER-SE>                                    480,553
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  828,820
<SALES>                                     1,614,351
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            1,646,494
<CGS>                                       1,475,258
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               1,475,258
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              124,560
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               (220)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                46,896
<INCOME-TAX>                                   18,289
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            28,607
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                   28,607
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0.76
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.75