Sam’s Club, the popular membership-based supermarket chain, is planning major growth in 2026. The company announced that it will open six new stores in California, Texas, and Tennessee. This growth aims to attract more customers with its services, offer more purchasing options, and use its Scan & Go technology (which allows customers to pay their purchases with their mobile phones without having to queue).
What’s more, Sam’s Club has extended store hours, which is more comfortable for customers who need to buy later. So, let’s talk a bit more about all of this.
New Sam’s Club stores
The new locations of the new stores have been chosen very carefully to serve areas with high population growth. Starting in 2026, Sam’s Club members will be able to shop at:
- California: Lathrop and Visalia.
- Tennessee: Lebanon.
- Texas: Baytown, Tomball, and Weslaco.
Even though the exact dates of the openings are not confirmed yet, the construction of the stores are going very fast to meet with the opening plan during 2026. These new locations represent a huge step in Sam’s Club strategy to strengthen its presence in key markets and catch more customers’ attention.
Extended store hours
Apart from opening new stores, Sam’s Club has extended its store hours. Before, the stores closed at 6 p.m. on Sundays, but now members will be able to go to the stores everyday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.. This offers better flexibility for customers, especially during seasons with higher demand like holidays.
Scan & Go technology
One of the main advantages of Sam’s Club is its Scan & Go technology, which will be also available in the new stores. This technology allows customers to:
- Scan items while shopping using the app on their phone.
- Pay directly through the app without waiting in checkout lines.
- Save time and enjoy a faster, easier shopping experience.
Scan & Go was first introduced at the new Tempe, Arizona location, and it will now expand to upcoming stores, making shopping quicker and more efficient for members.
Memberships to buy at Sam’s Club
To be able to buy at Sam’s Club, both in the new stores and the ones already existing, customers will have to be members. The membership options are the following:
- Club Membership: The standard option, costing $50 per year.
- Plus Membership: The premium option with additional benefits, costing $110 per year.
Having a membership gives customers access to all Sam’s Club services, including special prices, exclusive products, and the Scan & Go technology.
Advantages of the new stores
These openings will make Sam’s Club closer to more communities, but also:
- Allow more people to enjoy membership benefits.
- Improve the shopping experience with faster payment technology.
- Provide greater convenience with extended hours and strategically located stores.
These new locations show Sam’s Club’s commitment to modernizing shopping, serving more communities, and maintaining the efficiency and quality the chain is known for.
To sum up
If you live in California, Texas, or Tennessee, one of these new locations could soon be right in your area. Longer store hours mean you can shop when it’s most convenient for you, and tools like Scan & Go help you save time by skipping long checkout lines.
If you are already a member, these changes bring more convenience and better access. And if you’re thinking about joining, 2026 could be the perfect time to take advantage of what Sam’s Club has to offer.
Either way, these new stores are designed with your shopping experience in mind, making everyday purchases faster, easier, and more comfortable. Have you ever visited Sam’s Club? If so, what has your experience been? Would you recommend it?