As it prepares to open a new location in Canarsie, BJ’s Wholesale Club is offering a deal to local public schools.
Several schools in Canarsie are holding BJ’s membership drives for educators and parents. In return, BJ’s is donating money to the schools.
For each person who registers to be a member at BJ’s, the company will give $5 back to the schools, explained Pete Laddomada, a staffer at BJ’s Gateway Center location.
“We want to help you,” Laddomada said at a recent meeting ofSchool District 18’s Community Education Council (CEC).
The money would come in handy for public schools, as they’ve endured several budget cuts leading to the limiting or elimination of after-school programs.
The memberships, which have been offered to schools at a discounted rate, would be for the new BJ’s store opening next year.
“BJ’s Wholesale is under construction at Remsen[Avenue] and Avenue D,” Laddomada said.
Attendees at the CEC meeting seemed excited about the prospect of joining BJ’s, which is similar to Costco.
James Dandridge, the CEC’s president, joked, “If he was going to give out coupons, I would have been the first person over there.”
BJ’s is attempting to increase its presence in New York City.
“They’re looking to open seven new stores in the metro area, three in Brooklyn,” Laddomada said.
The company is eyeing a spot near Ikea in Red Hook and another in southern Brooklyn, Laddomada said.
The latter location is part of Thor Equities developer Joe Sitt’s proposal for a214,000-square-foot shopping center at 1752 Shore Parkway. The site now stores school buses for the Amboy Bus Company. The Department of City Planning will hold a hearing about the proposal later this month.
