After declaring bankruptcy, Big Lots closed its stores earlier this year; however, the brand was acquired by Variety Wholesalers and is now in a phase of reopening branches, which will return remodeled, with new product categories and more clearance sales. Some have already opened this month, and others will reopen in May; here’s a list of which ones.
Which Big Lots stores will reopen in May?
Variety Wholesalers acquired 219 Big Lots stores, which will reopen in several phases. In April, the company opened some locations, and on May 1st, it plans to reopen 55 Big Lots stores in the following states:
- Indiana
- Ohio
- Michigan
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Kentucky
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Georgia
- Alabama
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Which Big Lots stores have already opened?
The first phase of reopening was on Thursday, April 10th, when nine stores opened in six states, including the following:
- 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
In addition to the stores that opened in April and those reopening in May, two more rounds of openings are planned for early June.
What can I buy at the new Big Lots stores?
The renovated Big Lots stores will continue offering the same low prices that customers are used to. Additionally, shoppers will find a wide variety of products in different categories, such as:
- Clothing
- Home decor
- Health and beauty items
- Clearance items
- Seasonal products
- Recognized brands
Why did Big Lots close its stores?
In September 2024, Big Lots filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, shortly after revealing plans to close over 400 stores across the country. At the time, the company explained that the closures were part of a sale agreement with a subsidiary of Nexus Capital Management LP. There was hope for a potential rescue when approval was announced to sell most of its assets and operations to Nexus. However, in December of that year, those hopes faded when the sale fell through.
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History of Variety Wholesalers
Variety’s story began in 1932 when James Pope, the father of John Pope and a descendant of a dry goods store owner, decided to open a dime store in Angier, North Carolina. From a young age, John ventured into the business world, inheriting his father’s business acumen. Foreseeing the shortages brought by the war in the 1940s, he began stockpiling goods, which allowed him to expand his business with more branches in North Carolina.
In 1947, with his savings and his father’s support, John started his own business, though his early ventures, such as a jewelry store and a wet mop factory, were unsuccessful. After his father’s death, who had left the dime stores to his brothers, John decided to acquire the business in 1949 due to their lack of interest in running it. Two years later, he bought his brothers’ share and began growing the company, managing it with cash flow for the next 20 years. In 1953, he opened his first self-service dime store, and in 1957, he officially formed his company under the name Variety Wholesalers, Inc.
Pope demonstrated an admirable ability to adapt to market changes, evolving his father’s dime stores into a variety store concept that responded to trends of the 1950s and early 1960s. He identified his space in small communities in the South and Mid-Atlantic, betting on the dollar store model in the 1970s and later diversifying his offerings with a mix of formats in the 1980s and 1990s.
How many Variety Wholesalers stores are there in the United States?
Currently, the company has over 400 stores in 18 states across the United States.
What brands does Variety Wholesalers manage?
Variety Wholesalers’ brands include:
- Roses Discount Stores
- Roses Express
- Maxway
- Big Lots
