<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 October 31, 1998
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            JAN-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                 OCT-31-1998
<CASH>                                          7,675
<SECURITIES>                                       98
<RECEIVABLES>                                  41,582
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0
<INVENTORY>                                   430,373
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              497,346
<PP&E>                                        579,190
<DEPRECIATION>                                162,766
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                924,373
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         362,289
<BONDS>                                        66,797
<COMMON>                                          377
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<OTHER-SE>                                    450,954
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  924,373
<SALES>                                     2,442,828
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            2,497,730
<CGS>                                       2,231,811
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               2,231,811
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              194,017
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               (456)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                72,358
<INCOME-TAX>                                   28,220
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            44,138
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                     (19,326)
<NET-INCOME>                                   24,812
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0.66
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.65