Big Lots Bounces Back: 78 More Stores Reopen Under New Leadership
Big Lots continues to reopen previously shuttered locations under new leadership.
Big Lots has opened upwards of 80 locations as the retailer moves forward under new leadership.
According to a press release, the retailer reopened 78 of its previously shuttered locations on Thursday, June 5. This makes 219 reopened stores since coming under the ownership of Variety Wholesalers.
The reopened stores are located across Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Additionally, Variety Wholesalers plans to acquire additional shuttered locations, and these will also be reopened under new management, as the company positions Big Lots for continued long-term growth and expansion.
Lisa Seigies, president and CEO of Variety Wholesalers, said, “The connection with the communities we serve, and the positive customer feedback has been more than we could have imagined. This enthusiastic response reinforces our belief that taking Big Lots! back to the roots of what made it a huge success resonates with our customers. Providing great value will always be our core mission.”
Big Lots is preparing for a grand opening celebration this fall, following the successful reopening of all 219 store locations. The event will welcome local communities back and express gratitude for their support.
Additional details about the grand reopening event will be announced in the coming months.
Big Lots Announced a Revival in April 2025
Big Lots filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2024 and subsequently closed its underperforming stores. Initially, the retailer planned to shut down 545 of its 1,389 locations by January 2025 but ended up closing more stores than originally expected.
In April 2025, Variety Wholesalers announced a first wave of openings for previously shuttered locations. These included nine stores across six states.
A second wave of reopenings of approximately 55 stores was set to begin May 1, 2025. Remaining stores will continue to reopen throughout early June, leading up to a grand opening celebration at all locations this fall.
“We’re thrilled to bring the Big Lots! brand back to life by offering more deals than ever, lots of famous brands and a new apparel department for the entire family,” Seigies said in April. “We’re opening stores quickly so we can serve the community. We know the stores won’t be perfect to start, but each week we’ll add more new products as we build towards the grand opening celebration in the fall. Every time a customer visits Big Lots! we want them to find something new and exciting!”
