BJ's Wholesale Club was originally established in 1984 as a warehouse division created by the historic Massachusetts-based discount department store chain Zayre. The corporate moniker itself originates from the initials of Beverly Jean Weich, who was the daughter of the company's first president, Mervyn Weich. Over subsequent decades, the enterprise transitioned through various corporate spinoffs, parent company reorganizations, and private equity buyouts before evolving into the independent publicly traded corporation operating today.