Things seem to finally be taking a turn for the better with Big Lots, the popular discount retailer. Much like many peers in the retail industry, Big Lots has also been facing major setbacks, particularly financial, in recent months. Things came to a head last year and the retailer was compelled to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company has managed to bounce back from this somewhat and will soon be reopening some stores in a series of four waves.
Big Lots making a comeback in 2025
The retailer is currently in the process of remodeling and cleaning up some of its stores in preparation for its upcoming “soft opening”. The company is also enacting a re-merchandizing process and this first of four waves of openings is scheduled for some time next month.
After dealing with bankruptcy last year, Big Lots saving grace came in the form of Variety Wholesalers. This North-Carolina based company has acquired a portion of Big Lots stores and is currently working towards reopening them.
According to Fast Company, “as many as 200 Big Lots stores were assigned to Variety Wholesalers as part of a deal with Gordon Brothers, the liquidation firm that took control of the retailer.” As such, the company will now be reopening multiple locations in a series of four waves starting in April and spanning through to some time in June.
The first wave of opening will be dedicated to the South. Six states will soon have nine newly reopened Big Lots locations and here is where you can find them:
Kentucky
- 1342 Indian Mound Dr, Mount Sterling, KY
Louisiana
- 755 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Metairie, LA
Mississippi
- 2605 W Main St, Tupelo, MS
- 5778 Hwy 80 E, Pearl, MS
North Carolina
- 1432 E Dixie Dr, Asheboro, NC
Tennessee
- 1041 S Riverside Dr, Clarksville, TN
- 744 Nashville Pike, Gallatin, TN
- 220 Dickson Plaza Dr, Dickson, TN
Virginia
- 2911 Hershberger Rd NW, Roanoke, VA
Opening dates
According to Variety Wholesalers vice president of sales and marketing, Jeff King, “the company began the necessary work on March 3 to reopen the locations.”
King also confirmed Thursday, April 10 as the soft opening date for all nine aforementioned locations.
Variety Wholesales has decided to keep the stores closed until the stipulated soft opening dates in order to perform any necessary work such as cleaning of the stores, as well as remodeling. Variety Wholesalers is also working towards introducing several new categories of merchandize for customers to enjoy.
The second of the four waves have also been confirmed by King. Whilst the first wave of opening encompasses only nine locations, King has shared that wave two will include a substantially larger number of locations. The second wave will involve the reopening of around 70 locations set for Thursday, May 1.
A new dawn for Big Lots
When news of the store closures and bankruptcy was announced, CEO Bruce Thorn explained that, “The actions we are taking today will enable us to move forward with new owners who believe in our business and provide financial stability. We aim to optimize our operational footprint, enhance performance, and reinforce our position as a leader in extreme value.”
Now, after some major restructuring, the retailer has a new beginning on the horizon. Whilst Variety Wholesalers will be running the show, the retailer will still keep its name.
Last year was perhaps the worst year in the company’s 57-year run and the December announcement that revealed the closure of all 870 locations almost marked the end for the company. The closure of this many stores would have also resulted in the termination of 27,000 employees.
During this time, the closures were being managed by Gordon Brothers who had purchased Big Lots. It is during this transitionary period that Variety Wholesalers saved the company from going completely under by purchasing the remaining 200 locations.