Costco vs. BJ's Wholesale in Forney: Which Membership Wins for Families?
For the first time, Forney families have a real choice between two wholesale clubs within five minutes of each other. Costco’s fuel station has been open at The Village at Gateway since early 2025, and BJ’s Wholesale Club is opening at the same development. So the obvious question:
If you’re only going to pay for one membership, which one should it be?
Here’s an honest comparison.
The Quick Answer
Most Forney families will be better off with Costco if their priorities are bulk meat, prepared foods, and gas savings, and they don’t mind buying in larger pack sizes.
BJ’s is the better fit if you want manufacturer-coupon stacking, smaller pack sizes alongside bulk, or you’re a household of 1–2 people who has historically felt like Costco quantities are “too much.”
The rest of this post is the full breakdown.
Membership Cost
- Costco Gold Star — entry tier, runs in the $60–$65 range annually.
- Costco Executive — adds 2% rewards on most purchases, around $130. Worth it if you spend over ~$3,000/year there.
- BJ’s Club — entry tier, typically $55.
- BJ’s Club+ — 2% rewards equivalent, around $110.
Out of the gate, BJ’s is slightly cheaper at every tier, and they almost always run discounted intro promos when opening a new club in a new market. Watch for that around the Forney grand opening.
Gas
Both Costco and BJ’s run members-only fuel stations, both typically among the cheapest in any market they’re in. Costco fuel in Forney is already busy enough that lines are common — having a second cheap option will almost certainly bring prices down a touch at both. We covered this in detail in our Forney gas prices guide.
If gas alone is your reason for joining, either works.
Meat and Protein (the Big Fitness Question)
This is where most fitness-minded shoppers spend the bulk of their grocery budget.
Costco — Kirkland Signature meats are consistently strong. Boneless skinless chicken breast, lean ground beef, salmon, and rotisserie chickens are all good values. Pack sizes are larger.
BJ’s — Wellsley Farms (their store brand) is comparable on most items. The big BJ’s edge is that they often offer the same protein in a smaller pack, so a single person or couple can buy lean chicken without ending up with a five-pound brick.
For a family of four lifting consistently, Costco usually wins on per-pound pricing. For a couple or single person, BJ’s flexibility wins.
Prepared Foods
Costco’s rotisserie chicken at $4.99 is famous for a reason. Their pre-made salads, sushi, and prepared entrees are also strong.
BJ’s prepared selection has improved a lot in recent years but still isn’t quite at Costco’s level. If “rotisserie chicken every Tuesday” is part of your meal plan, that’s Costco.
Coupons
BJ’s accepts manufacturer coupons. Costco does not. If you genuinely use coupons (digital or paper), BJ’s can stack them on top of already-low club pricing — real savings on packaged goods over a year.
If you’ve never clipped a coupon in your life, this doesn’t matter to you.
H-E-B Is the Wildcard
Don’t forget — H-E-B is also opening at Gateway, and for fresh produce, fish, bakery, and prepared meals, H-E-B will probably be your weekly stop. The wholesale club question is really “where do I do my big monthly buy?” not your weekly groceries.
The Family Time Multiplier
Both clubs have one thing in common: they save you trips and money, but they take time. A Costco run with kids is rarely a quick errand.
The single biggest move for Forney families isn’t picking the right club — it’s tightening your loop. Workout, groceries, fuel, and dinner all within five minutes of home. We’ve been at 127 E US Highway 80 in Forney for over 25 years, and TX Fitness’s Kids Zone exists exactly because parents lose their fitness time the second the loop gets too big.
If you’re going to be at Gateway anyway, work out before or after. The math works.