SPRINGFIELD — The picture of what Springfield Crossing is slowly coming into focus after BJ’s Wholesale Club announced last week that they are one of the stores opening at the former Eastfield Mall later this year.
In an announcement to the media, the club said it will be the Massachusetts-based company’s first new location in its home state in 13 years.
“For more than 40 years BJ’s has been delivering unbeatable value to families – and that all started right here in Massachusetts,” said Bob Eddy, chair and CEO, BJ’s Wholesale Club. “As we’ve become one of the largest companies based in Massachusetts, we’re excited to continue growing in our own backyard — contributing to our communities and helping take care of the families who depend on us.”
When it opens, the Springfield location will partner with The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts by donating produce, meat, dairy products and more each week. According to the announcement, the partnership continues BJ’s lineage of working with local food banks to help provide meals to those in need.
“For over 15 years, it has worked with Feeding America and its network of food banks, providing more than 155 million meals for those in need,” the company said.
The new location will be one of 25-30 new clubs expected to open across the country over the next two fiscal years. According to the company, the Springfield location is expected to create 100-150 jobs.
No exact opening date was included in the announcement.
Other updates
BJ’s is not the only company to confirm with Reminder Publishing about a new store at Springfield Crossing. A spokesperson from La-Z-Boy said in a January that the American furniture manufacturer is opening a new location at 1655 Boston Rd. in winter 2027.
“La-Z-Boy Incorporated is excited to be a part of the development of this new center that was previously the Eastfield Mall,” Cara Klaer, the senior director of La-Z-Boy, said in a statement. “This new store will mark our 12th location in New England and will support continued growth of our footprint in the area, and the state of Massachusetts.”
In April, a Target spokesperson confirmed to Reminder Publishing that a new store is coming to the former Eastfield Mall location, but did not divulge a grand opening date at the time.
“We’re excited to bring an easy, affordable and convenient shopping experience to new guests in the Springfield community with this new Target store,” said a spokesperson from the store. “Located at Boston Road and ½ mile east of Parker Street and Highway 21, the store will be approximately 128,000 square feet.”
Other stores are listed inside the promotional materials for the project, including PetSmart, Hobby Lobby, Chick-fil-A, Carter’s, Skechers and Chipotle.
On June 2, the Springfield City Council voted unanimously to establish a 34-acre development district on the 1655 Boston Rd. land and commit $8 million to the district to help pay extraordinary development costs incurred by the project.
During the meeting, developers of the project said completion will be done in phases. The first phase, valued at $77 million, includes the opening of seven stores this fall and a Target in the first quarter of 2026.
Meanwhile, the second phase of the project will include 50 housing units and then a third phase will feature some type of commercial development.
Readers can learn more about recent updates to the project by visiting previous Reminder Publishing reporting: tinyurl.com/2k9s4pvr.
