Sam’s Club is moving quickly in 2025 to reshape the warehouse-club experience. The club is expanding into new cities while modernizing its existing stores with digital-first services and broader health offerings.
The strategy pairs physical growth with significant tech investment aimed at making shopping faster, more convenient, and better integrated with online ordering and home delivery.
If you want the facts about where Sam’s Club is opening, what new stores look like, and how these changes affect members, this guide breaks everything down into short sections for fast reading.
Sam’s Club’s 2025 Expansion Overview
Sam’s Club’s decision to rev up its growth engine comes as U.S. shoppers stretch their dollars in uncertain economic times. Higher tariffs on imports and ongoing inflation have shifted spending habits, boosting the appeal of warehouse clubs that offer exceptional value.
While many retailers are contracting or closing stores, warehouse clubs are thriving, offering bulk discounts on food, fuel, home essentials, and specialty services—all under one roof.
This favorable environment is supercharged by Sam’s Club’s digital savvy. Leadership, including CEO Chris Nicholas, describes the current program as “one of the fastest, most scalable transformations happening in retail today.” The north star? Become the world’s best club retailer by investing intentionally in stores, associates, and the member experience.
The Big Expansion Plan
- 15 new Sam’s Club stores will open each year for the foreseeable future
- At least 30 new clubs are confirmed to debut by 2026
- All 600 existing clubs will undergo major remodels, following a high-tech blueprint
- Ambitious growth targets: Double membership, sales, and profit over 8-10 years
- $90 billion business in the U.S., with current membership at an all-time high
These moves are intended not only to bring Sam’s Club to new neighborhoods but to “modernize every touchpoint,” offering a seamless blend of in-store, mobile, and e-commerce shopping.
New Sam’s Club Locations in 2025
Tempe, Arizona New Sam’s Club Store
- Grand opening: August 7, 2025 (after a preview and local ribbon-cutting events)
- Location: Tempe Marketplace, 2080 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, AZ
- Club size: 155,000 square feet—roomier than most legacy stores
- Features: Advanced Scan & Go technology, expanded pickup/delivery, largest fulfillment center in the region, on-site fuel station for members
The Tempe Sam’s Club marks the company’s first entry in the city, joining 12 other Arizona locations. This brand-new club isn’t just about bulk groceries. It’s designed for the “future of shopping,” integrating the latest frictionless checkout, curbside and delivery options, and extensive member services.
Members can test the full digital experience—browse online-only deals instore, scan and purchase with their phones, or even have large or home-only orders delivered directly to their doorstep.
Tempe’s club features more dedicated space for curbside pickup and e-commerce fulfillment, which aligns with shifting consumer habits in suburban Phoenix.
Early members enjoy perks like bonus Sam’s Cash on fuel, exclusive finds, and grand opening deals across tech, home, and seasonal merchandise.
Local impact
The new club brings jobs and more retail choices to the marketplace area, and it competes directly with other grocers and big-box retailers in the region.
Lebanon, Tennessee New Sam’s Club Store
- Grand opening: Planned for late 2025 (construction underway; first Sam’s Club in the city)
- Location: Willard Hagan Drive along South Hartmann Drive, north of Interstate 40
- Club size: ~168,000 square feet, exceeding the average for U.S. clubs
- Features: Register-free experience, expanded healthcare and specialty services, in-store pickup and delivery infrastructure
Lebanon, TN is joining national retail trends by welcoming big-box anchors like Target, Walmart, and Sam’s Club to one new commercial corridor. The Sam’s Club project is projected to add millions in annual city sales tax revenue and generate over 200 local jobs. For many in Wilson County, the club’s arrival fulfills long-standing requests for more convenient shopping destinations.
Lebanon’s Economic Impact
Lebanon’s finance director projects $3.5-$4 million in additional sales tax revenue from the influx of big-box retail like Sam’s Club. City leadership sees this as essential for offering shopping convenience and new employment opportunities as the city grows.
Other Sam’s Club Locations in the Expansion Pipeline
Beyond Tempe and Lebanon, Sam’s Club intends to break ground on at least seven more locations in 2025, part of a rolling effort to open roughly 15 new stores per year.
The company has already scouted sites in urban and suburban markets with growing demand for warehouse shopping, but hasn’t released the full list of future club locations publicly.
Recent announcements and construction permits suggest Sam’s Club will keep targeting high-growth regions and markets underserved by Costco or BJ’s. Several experts predict that Texas, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia are next, as rising populations and household formation drive club demand.
These new builds are typically larger, about 160,000 square feet and strategically located for both in-store members and e-commerce fulfillment. Each new club is expected to create 200-300 jobs and inject tens of millions into their local economies.
Grapevine Prototype – What Existing 600 Store Looks Like
The centerpiece of Sam’s Club’s remodeling vision is its newly rebuilt Grapevine, TX location, which reopened in late 2024 after tornado damage closed it for over a year. This “store of the future” sets the new gold standard for all 600+ U.S. clubs.
What’s Different in Grapevine Model?
- No traditional checkout lanes: It’s 100% Scan & Go on your phone, with member specialists at high-top tables to help newcomers.
- AI-powered exit technology: Members walk through a camera arch that automatically matches their cart to their mobile receipt—no physical receipt check.
- Omnichannel showroom (“dance floor”): Replaces registers with open space where members can browse, get inspired, buy both physical and online-only merchandise, or scan QR codes for “Scan & Ship” delivery.
- Expanded member services: Full-service pharmacy, optical, hearing centers, & health suites.
- Experiential fresh food: Sushi island with on-site chefs, home meal solutions, gourmet cheese and bakery, plus a pizza-making robot in the cafe.
- Automation and robotics that support fulfillment and routine maintenance tasks.
Beyond Grapevine, Sam’s Club is in the process of rolling out this modern format to all 600 clubs over the next 8–10 years. Each remodel will be tailored for local community needs but unified by technology-driven, customer-centric design.
What This Means for Members
For shoppers, the remodels add space, speed, and personalized experiences. Register-free checkout, shorter exit times, more pickup options, and interactive displays for big or online-only purchases—all aim to save members time and offer new ways to shop.
For employees, automation and AI don’t mean job cuts—instead, associates are retrained for higher-value service roles. Robots and AI handle repetitive tasks, freeing staff to help members and ensure efficient operations.
Innovative Store Formats and Design Features
Sam’s Club’s new and remodeled stores break out of the traditional warehouse club mold. They’re bigger—around 20,000 square feet larger than legacy clubs. More space means dedicated areas for
- Bulk buying and Costco-style shopping
- Online order fulfillment: Up to 6,000 square feet for picking/packing, with refrigerated totes and high-speed doors for curbside/delivery
- Member experience zones: “Inspiration spaces” and omnichannel showrooms for testing online-only or seasonal products
- Expanded parking for curbside pickup
- In-club cubbies/café for fast food pickup
Fresh Food Innovation
Sam’s Club is using food to drive traffic and loyalty. Sushi chefs, pizza-making robots, massive bakery cases, and gourmet cheese/wine assortments are now front and center in remodeled clubs. These enhancements compete directly with Costco’s much-loved food courts and rotisserie offerings.
Healthcare and Specialty Services
The remodeled clubs deepen Sam’s Club’s commitment to health and wellness. Expanded spaces for pharmacy, optical, hearing, and over-the-counter services make each club a one-stop-shop for much more than groceries.
Larger healthcare suites and dedicated waiting rooms reflect Sam’s bid to increase membership retention through more complete household support.
Sustainable and Automated Operations
Sustainability is another core theme. New and remodeled locations include zero-emission energy strategies, widespread LED lighting, recycling initiatives, water-saving fixtures, EV charging stations, and “green” refrigerants.
Automation extends from AI-powered inventory management to robotics that reduce waste and labor for routine tasks.
Digital and Omnichannel Customer Experience
Seamless shopping wins loyalty—and Sam’s Club has the proof. Members who use both physical and digital channels visit three times more often, buy across twice as many merchandise categories, and renew their memberships at rates 10% higher than store-only shoppers. Digital engagement is now the foundation for customer satisfaction and retention.
Key Digital Innovations
- Scan & Go: Skip checkout, scan in-aisle, and pay from your phone. In clubs piloting the full system, up to 100% of members now use it.
- AI-powered exit technology: Camera arches verify carts in seconds, reducing exit time by 23% on average, and freeing up staff.
- Personalized AI-driven advertising: Members get recommendations, deals, and digital coupons based on purchase history and preferences.
- Scan & Ship: Scan any item in-club and have it delivered home—ideal for oversize goods and seasonal buys.
- Curbside pickup and same-day delivery: Built for speed, with free options for Plus members and low thresholds for all.
- Order-at-café and fuel integration: Use the app to order food, pay for gas, or manage receipts.
- Member’s Mark Community: 50,000+ paid members now give live feedback on private brands and product development.
More than half of all Sam’s Club transactions in 2025 are now digital in some way. About 1 in 3 members use Scan & Go regularly, while 40% of all Sam’s Club transactions, including in-store purchases, show some digital touchpoint.
Membership Growth Goals and Financial Projections
Sam’s Club’s growth ambitions are clear and bold
- Double membership numbers in the next 8–10 years
- Double sales and profits over the same period
- Continue growing the private brand Member’s Mark to account for 50% or more of sales growth
- More than 100,000 associates retained and upskilled for the new omnichannel format
How will they achieve it? By leveraging both physical and digital expansion, tech innovation, and unbeatable value in the face of rising costs from tariffs and inflation. Membership income is now 80-90% of Sam’s Club’s profits, and digitally engaged members renew at significantly higher rates than others.
In recent quarters, membership revenue has already jumped 13%, while e-commerce sales grew by 24% year over year. The state with the most Sam’s Clubs—Texas, with 82 locations—serves as the testing ground for new formats and member perks.
Financial highlight: Sam’s Club’s net sales reached $90.2 billion for the fiscal year ending January 2025—a jump of 53% compared to pre-pandemic levels, reflecting not just expansion, but deeper engagement and bigger member baskets.
Member’s Mark – The Private Brand Engine
Member’s Mark is central to Sam’s Club’s merchandising strategy. The brand is increasingly used across grocery, home, and seasonal categories, and Sam’s Club is actively involving members in product testing and selection to speed product-market fit.
Healthcare, Sustainability, and Automation
Remodeled clubs emphasize health services (expanded pharmacy and clinical services), energy-efficient design, EV charging, and robotics to improve store efficiency. These changes are designed to reduce operating costs, improve member convenience, and support sustainability targets.
Competitive Context – Costco, BJ’s, and Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club’s strategy leans heavily on tech and private-label expansion to differentiate itself from competitors. While Costco remains a heavyweight in member loyalty and volume, Sam’s Club’s push on digital and health services aims to capture convenience-seeking, digitally active shoppers.
Final Verdict
Sam’s Club is on an undeniable hot streak in 2025. New locations in Tempe, Arizona and Lebanon, Tennessee, dozens more in the pipeline, and a tech-centered revamp for 600 clubs nationwide signal a new era for warehouse club retail. The brand is focused on frictionless Scan & Go shopping, member-driven product design, impactful digital and health services, and market-leading automation and sustainability. Whether you’re a bargain hunter, a technology enthusiast, or someone seeking convenience and value for your household budget, there’s never been a better time to “join the club.”
For members, this means faster, smarter shopping, personalized deals, and more value out of every membership dollar—including growing opportunities in wellness services, fresh foods, and private brand discovery.
For investors and communities, it signals robust job growth, stable top-line financials, and a bold competitive edge as Sam’s Club squares off against Costco and BJ’s in the high-value, omnichannel retail race.
As inflation and tariffs pressure household spending, Sam’s Club’s 2025 playbook of expansion, digital innovation, and member-first design sets it apart as the warehouse club to watch—for this year and the decade to come.