More stores added to Big Lots closure list

(Gray News) - Almost 50 Big Lots locations have been added to a closures list as the retailer shrinks its national footprint amid bankruptcy procedures.

Big Lots announced its Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this month.

The retailer previously listed about 300 stores for closure. Those stores are winding down operations and selling their products at steep discounts, as low as 70% off at some locations.

The stores recently added to the closure list have a 20% banner on their location’s websites. Those stores include:

Alabama: Andalusia
Arizona: Apache Junction
Arkansas: North Little Rock
Colorado: Westminster
Florida: Miami - Cutler Bay
Idaho: Boise
Illinois: Champaign
Indiana: Crawfordsville and Evansville - Town Center
Kansas: Olathe
Kentucky: Madisonville
Louisiana: Hammond
Nevada: Henderson - Lake Mead Crossing, Las Vegas (Southwest Las Vegas, Sahara Avenue, Fort Apache, Paradise and Summerlin) and Reno (Lemmon Valley and South Reno)
New Jersey: East Brunswick, Freehold, North Bergen, Ocean, Phillipsburg, Union
New Mexico: Alamogordo
Ohio: Cincinnati - Cherry Grove
Oklahoma: Tulsa - Oakhurst
Texas: Austin - Wells Branch, Baytown, Dallas - Park Forest, Fort Worth, Frisco, Galveston, Garland - South Garland, Groves, Houston (Northwest Houston at Fm 1960 Rd W and Museum District), Kilgore, Mcallen, Richland, San Antonio - Hollywood Park, Stephenville, Terrell
Utah: Kearns
Wisconsin: Stevens Point

As part of the bankruptcy filing, private equity firm Nexus Capital Management will take over nearly all Big Lots’ stores and business operations.

More closures could be in store for Big Lots locations.

The company said it will “continue optimizing our store footprint during the (bankruptcy) process. Though most of our stores are profitable, and we are taking every step possible to improve the profitability of all our stores, we will need to close certain locations to ensure that our business operates efficiently and we can continue serving our customers.”

The retailer blamed several economic factors for its woes, including high inflation and interest rates that caused its core customers to cut discretionary spending “on the home and seasonal product categories that represent a significant portion” of its revenue.