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)
