Effective March 17, Refac Optical Group’s U.S. Vision chain, which specializes in leased optical departments, will take over the operation of 156 leased departments in BJ’s Wholesale warehouse clubs.

The BJ’s Optical departments were formerly operated by Luxottica Group’s Luxottica Retail division. Luxottica executives announced on Feb. 7 that the company would let its license agreement with Natick, Mass.-based BJ’s expire. 

During Luxottica’s Investor Day program early this month, the positioning of the BJ’s Wholesale optical departments was described as “not in alignment with the Licensed Brands strategy.”

Luxottica inherited the BJ’s Wholesale lease agreement when it acquired Cole Vision and Cole’s Licensed Brands operation in late 2004. Dave Pierson, Refac Optical Group’s president and chief executive officer, confirmed that this agreement represents U.S. Vision’s first leased departments in a warehouse club host environment. The addition of the BJ’s units brings Refac’s store count to 678 locations, according to Pierson.