As Columbus-based retailer Big Lots navigates its bankruptcy process, a recent court filing suggests that approximately 200 locations may remain open under new ownership.
Which Big Lots Stores Will Stay Open?
According to a filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Gordon Brothers Retail Partners—an asset liquidation firm assisting with the process—has identified 200 stores expected to be taken over by Variety Wholesalers Inc.
Variety, a North Carolina-based retail company, announced in December its plans to acquire between 200 and 400 Big Lots locations through a deal with Gordon Brothers. Big Lots, which had 1,392 stores at the start of 2024, currently operates 872 locations across the United States.
The 200 locations expected to remain open span 14 states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Ohio Locations Set to Stay Open
Several Ohio Big Lots stores are among those expected to continue operations. The full list includes:
- Akron: 426 East Waterloo Road, 1890 W. Market St.
- Alliance: 1965 W. State St.
- Barberton: 241 W. Wooster Road
- Bridgeport: 56104 National Road
- Canton: 1336 Whipple Ave. NW
- Cincinnati: 3640 Werk Road
- Cleveland: 12588 Rockside Road
- Columbus: 2837 Winchester Pike
- Cuyahoga Falls: 405 Howe Ave.
- Elyria: 825 Cleveland St.
- Fremont: 1800 E. State St.
- Gallipolis: 400 Silver Bridge Plaza
- Grove City: 3961 Hoover Road
- Harrison: 10560 Harrison Ave.
- Kettering: 2050 E. Dorothy Lane
- Lancaster: 1700 E Main St.
- Marietta: 110 S. 7th St.
- Mentor: 8489 Market St.
- New Philadelphia: 408 Bluebell Dr. NW
- Reynoldsburg: 6300 E. Livingston Ave.
- South Point: 367 County Road 406
- Toledo: 3946 W. Alexis Road
- Warren: 4331 Mahoning Ave.
- Wintersville: 498 Cadiz Road
- Wheelersburg: 9025 Ohio River Road
- Youngstown: 7100 South Ave.
Big Lots’ Bankruptcy Timeline
Big Lots filed for bankruptcy protection on September 9, 2024, citing inflation and high interest rates as factors impacting its customers and business. Initially, investment firm Nexus Capital Management had agreed to purchase most of the company’s assets, but that deal fell through in December. Gordon Brothers then stepped in to manage the sale of certain locations.
Store Closures Continue
In January, Gordon Brothers announced the closure of 500 Big Lots stores nationwide, including 23 in Ohio.
Among the Ohio stores set to close are:
- Ashtabula: 2466 W. Prospect Road
- Bowling Green: 818 S. Main St.
- Brunswick: 1733 Pearl Road
- Chardon: 540 Water St.
- Circleville: 201 Lancaster Pike
- Cleveland: 14901 Lorain Ave.
- Columbus: 4260 West Broad St.
- Coshocton: 300 Downtowner Plaza
- Delaware: 159 S. Sandusky St.
- Dublin: 6569 Sawmill Road
- East Liverpool: 15977 State Route 170
- Findlay: 1925 Tiffin Ave.
- Heath: 851 S. 30th St.
- Holland: 1588 Spring Meadows Drive
- Huber Heights: 5555 Executive Blvd.
- Lima: 2100 Harding Highway
- Marysville: 15715 US Highway 36
- Piqua: 1254 E. Ash St.
- Portsmouth: 2523 Gallia St.
- Tiffin: 644 W. Market St.
- Trotwood: 5009 Salem Ave.
- Willoughby: 35101 Euclid Ave.
- Youngstown: 4341 Kirk Road
More Closures on the Horizon
Big Lots had already shuttered more than 400 locations nationwide, including 20 in Ohio, before January’s closure announcement. The company’s restructuring efforts continue as it navigates the bankruptcy process.
For customers and employees of Big Lots, the ongoing transitions bring uncertainty, but for now, 200 locations—many in Ohio—are expected to continue operations under new ownership.
