Sam’s Club Expects To Open 15 New Stores Annually

Sam’s Club has big expansion plans. The Walmart-owned warehouse club plans to open 15 new stores every year going forward. Its roughly 600 current locations are also getting a makeover.

Before the end of this fiscal year, Sam’s Club will have new warehouses in Lebanon, Tennessee, and Tempe, Arizona. The construction of seven more stores will begin also, but they will not be ready to open until next fiscal year.

According to CEO Chris Nicholas, the footprint expansion could help double membership numbers within 10 years. While the warehouse does not provide an official number of members, Sam’s reported membership revenue grew 13% in the fiscal fourth quarter.

In October, a Sam’s Club opened in Grapevine, Texas, that is unlike other locations. The warehouse does not have checkout lanes, so shoppers must use the Scan & Go smartphone app to pay for purchases. The space normally used for registers is used for fulfilling online and curbside pickup orders. It is likely that all warehouses going forward, including renovated locations, will mimic this “all-digital” model.

Sam’s Club Growth

Sam’s Club is a popular shopping destination regardless of economic conditions. Yet, it is during challenging times that the warehouse thrives.

“In times of plenty, we do well. But in tough times, we do really well,” Nicholas told CBNC.

Sam’s Club reported $90.2 billion in net sales for fiscal year 2025. Comparable sales, which measure revenue from locations open at least a year, grew almost 6%.

Sam’s Club’s competitor Costco plans to open 28 new warehouses this fiscal year. The retailer currently has 620 locations in the U.S., but it is not known how many of the new clubs will be located within the States.

Rival BJ’s Wholesale Club intends to have 25 to 30 new stores open within two fiscal years. BJ’s, which already has a strong presence on the East Coast, will likely focus the new warehouses in the southeast.

The estimated costs involved in remodeling Sam’s Club warehouses and opening new ones were not announced. Parent company Walmart estimates that capital expenditures on store remodels, new locations, and technology will be between $20.24 billion and $23.61 billion this year.