BJ’s Wholesale Club Moving into the former National Wholesale Liquidators Spot (Photo: QueensPost)
June 21, 2019 By Christian Murray
BJ’s Wholesale Club and Burlington Coat Factory are likely to be opening on 48th Street in the mall that used to house National Wholesale Liquidators and Toys R Us.
Heidenberg Properties Group, the owner of the 35-00 48th Street mall, went before Community Board 1 Tuesday to get the lots rezoned in order for these stores to open.
The property owner needs a special permit since “variety stores” and “multi-use” stores do not meet zoning code, and require special permits.
National Wholesale Liquidators needed to get the same permit before it opened due to a quirk in the zoning code. The site is zoned for uses such as hardware from the days when Pergament operated out of the space.
Florence Koulouris, the district manager for Community Board 1, said the board voted 29 to 2 in favor of granting the permit, with one abstention. The board asked the property owner to conduct a traffic study.
BJ’s will be opening in the former National Wholesale Liquidators store while the Burlington Coat Factory will be coming to Toys R Us. There will be little change to the buildings.
No time line was given as to when they would open.
The application will be going to the Queens Borough Presidents office to be reviewed, before the City Planning Commission and City Council vote on it. Little opposition is expected.
National Liquidators closed at the end of 2018 while Toys R Us last summer.
Burlington Coat Factory is moving into the former Toys R Us location (QueensPost)
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44 Comments
Hi just a question, we hear that there will be a bjs and a Berlington coming to Plaza 48 but I haven’t seen or heard of anything else since June 21st. What is the deal with the stores?
Strip malls gonna strip mall.
I have a Costco membership and spend a fair amount of money there. However, with BJ’s coming to Plaza 48 I will switch. Maybe Costco is a little better (opinions differ), but every trip there means 30 mins of driving. Happy to skip that and getting closer to ditching car ownership altogether!
Traffic will be insane. I won’t be shopping in that area anymore.
Some sort of odd lot or Lotless would have been beautiful!!!
I have a BJ’s member ship and they are way more expansive than food Bazar market why pay for a membership if they are the same price as the regular super market or more money.i have Costco membership,and they are way cheaper than BJ’s.i would not renew my BJ’s member ship next year.
Great!! Now I can fill my tiny 1.3 million dollar “house” with all the essentials. Won’t ever have to go to the bodega again.
How can anybody be against BJs? Everyone loves BJs!
Great. Two stores we don’t need. How about a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods (i.e. a decent grocery store)?
There are two good supermarkets in this area already. I also go to Aldi’s in Rego Park once a month. They’re better than Trader Joes and much more affordable than Whole Foods.
What are the teo good grocery stores? If you think we have them here in Sunnyside, we may have different standards of shopping.
Both Stap & Shop and Food Bazaar are decent supermarkets. Here in Sunnyside, I shop at Green Valley on Greenpoint and it’s a nice store. There are two others here- the one on Greenpoint & 42 & the one by the 46th Street 7 train. They’re not bad.
Then we have much different standards of grocery shopping. I find both S&S or Bazaar horrible. The only decent grocery store is on 46th and Queens Blvd and that’s a B+ at best. We need a Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s or something comparable.
I find many items in the Woodside/Sunnyside grocery stores way more expensive than the same items in Whole Foods. Why is that?
I would love a Trader Joe’s in Woodside. I have written to them, but I doubt we will see one anytime soon.
I’m glad businesses, which will benefit our local economy, are opening in Woodside/Sunnyside, instead of online markets that do not pay any type of local tax, payroll tax, state tax taking our business away. I hope the traffic study is properly done and we won’t have a bottleneck at the Northern Blvd/48 Street intersection.
Actually, online markets, such as Amazon, do pay NY State sales tax.
Do they pay local tax (NYC?) The profits amazon makes are disbursed far away from here, which it the OP’s basic point.
Save it Jesse, you’ll never convince them with facts, logic and reasoning.
Couldn’t they please just do a little beautification to make it less of a parking lot with warehouse stores? Possibly a tree here or there? Not asking for much here but why does that strip have to be such a scar on the neighborhood?
If this place accepts EBT it will do very well in this area.
The ONLY thing I HATE about BJ’s is their hot food, Sams and Costco definitely take the cake in that category.
Hi yes you are so right plus the products are way higher than Costco on products,I don’t mind paying a membership fee but if there prices are a lot higher than Costco why pay a membership fee.costco has great deals on alot of stuff.bjays gets in by giving you the first year$25 dollars membership fee,then the next year the same price as costco.i will keep Costco not BJ’s.i bought a ice cream cake a BJ’s and the same cake at,food Bazar was way cheaper.costco is the best.
I disapprove! The community board should demand free memberships for the poor and the elderly in the neighborhood before giving them the OK.
Most of the people in the neighborhood have memberships to BJ already they just have to travel way to far to get to one
How do you know this?
Finally B’Js is coming to neighborhood ???? I Can wait, we need store like carter, Gap, target in sunnyside by soundtrack restaurant was??
We really need BJ’s close to two as this is very good news
Burlington Coat Factory, which seems to be in the process of dropping “Coat Factory” from its name, will be competing against Marshall’s on the opposite side of 48th Street. I find it hard to tell the difference between “marked-down” merchandise offered at both.
Have you BEEN to Marshalls lately? Lines coiling around the store, parents not watching their kids, kids getting hurt… That was this weekend! But it happens every time anyway!
Cool. It would be great to see a field of dreams in green grass too. Sports fields, trees, & gardens for all……
BJ’s great !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Burlington yes. Idk about BJ’s. I mean, would the parking lot be able to handle the cars while sharing the space with multiple stores? I also wish it would be a store that a: was not $$$ membership. And b: bulk buying. I mean I don’t have need or room for a ten lb jug of mayonnaise.
Will the bicyclists be able to shop?
Can I apply for a job in this stores that will open?
No you can’t
I am sure they will be many openings. I can walk to this area from my home. My kids are starting Universal pre-k and I am also looking for part time work. Good Luck!
Why are you getting downvotes?
RIP 48th Street.
We could hardly make left turn from Northern Blvd, now it will be almost impossible.
Where are the corporate haters? BJs is OK Amazon is not OK? Whoever fooled you fools, really ruined it for Sunnyside and LIC. I hope they bring Whole Foods to the site of the fire on 45th to stick it to you.
BJs is awesome, and at least we can get some deals.
What?
Buying bulk can save you money. And even though the area surrounding this location is primarily residential (which is great for those who do not drive) you still need a car to bring the big items home.
How can it save you money if you can’t use two loaves of bread within the freshnedd time period?
I know it will come as a shock but, it’s not all about YOU, car lovers.
Finally, a Bjs in my neighborhood.
Great news!