BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings Shares Open Trading at $21.25

BJ's Wholesale Club sold 37.5 million shares at $17 each, marking a strong IPO. The company, taken private in 2011, is now public again, with a buy rating from Gordon Haskett. BJ's competes with Costco and Walmart, operating 215 stores in 16 states. Private equity owners upgraded stores and changed the footprint. The capital raised will help pay down $2.4 billion in debt. Despite retail challenges, the IPO indicates a positive market shift, with 12 US listings this week, the busiest in three years.

How many stores does BJ's currently have and in how many states?

What does the recent activity in IPOs suggest about the retail market?