BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.

Flushing, N.Y. -- Five Guys Burgers and Fries said Monday is has opened a new location at Sky View Center, located in Flushing, N.Y.

The upscale fast-food chain has opened a 2,000-sq.-ft. location on level B of the 800,000-sq.-ft. regional mall, and is one of 200 new franchises opening in 2011 for the chain.

Westborough, Mass. -- BJ’s Wholesale Club said Friday that its shareholders have okayed the acquisition bid that will take the company private.

Private equity firms Leonard Green & Partners and CVC Capital Partners agreed to acquire the warehouse club operator in a deal valued at $2.8 billion.

According to BJ’s, 72% of its shareholders approved the bid. The deal is slated to close on or about Sept. 30.
 

NEW YORK — Despite low consumer confidence, the volatile economy and a hurricane, many retailers reported better-than-expected sales in August. Hurricane Irene appeared to put a dent in the results of some retailers on the East Coast, but the storm did not appear to do as serious damage as some expected.

Total retail sales rose 4.4%, just missing the 4.6% rise that Wall Street analysts had expected, according to Thomson Reuters. Of the 19 out of the 25 retailers that Thomson Reuters tracks, 11 beat expectations.

New York City -- Despite low consumer confidence, the volatile economy and a hurricane, many retailers reported better-than-expected sales in August. Hurricane Irene appeared to put a dent in the results of some retailers on the East Coast, but the storm did not appear to do as serious damage as some expected.

Total retail sales rose 4.4%, just missing the 4.6% rise that Wall Street analysts had expected, according to Thomson Reuters. Of the 19 out of the 25 retailers that Thomson Reuters tracks, 11 beat expectations.

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — Strong performances in key categories and higher gas profitability helped BJ’s Wholesale Club exceed its earnings guidance for the second quarter. The company reported net income for the period ended July 30 of $45.7 million, or 84 cents per diluted share. The company's guidance called for net income in the range of $40.5 to $42.5 million and earnings in the range of 74 cents to 78 cents per diluted share. For the second quarter of 2010, BJ's reported net income of $35.8 million, or 67 cents per diluted share.

Costco and BJ’s Wholesale Club continue to produce solid sales growth aided by high gas prices, shoppers desire to save money and their ability to pass through food price inflations.

New York City -- Warehouse club operators  Costco and BJ’s Wholesale Club continue to benefit from high fuel prices and bargain-seeking consumers, with both chain reporting solid results.

Costco reported a 10% rise in same-store sales In July, beating Wall Street's expectations for an 8.6% increase.

New York City -- Discounters and warehouse clubs turned in robust performances in June, led by Costco Wholesale Club, whose same-store sales in the United States rose 12%, while internationally same-store sales jumped 18%. Excluding the impact of inflation in gasoline prices and stronger foreign currencies, Costco said same-store sales in June rose 8%. Its results beat expectations.

Sam’s is enjoying some solid momentum these days, but a potential buyout of BJ’s Wholesale Club announced Friday morning could create some competitive issues in market where the companies operations overlap.

Of course, that assumes the private equity firms Leonard Green & Partners and CVC Capital Partners, the companies who have joined forces to take BJ’s private, are interested in growing the business and investing in operations as opposed to simply squeezing the 190 unit retailer for cash.

New York City -- Two private equity firms are teaming up to make a bid to purchase BJ’s Wholesale Club, the New York Post reported.

Leonard Green & Partners and CVC Capital Partners are reportedly set to offer $2.8 billion to purchase the club retailer, according to the Post.

Rumors that BJ's Wholesale could be sold have been circulating for months. In March, the chain revealed in an SEC filing that it entered into a "confidentiality agreement" with Leonard Green to evaluate a possible purchase.