COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — A North Carolina-based company is resurrecting more than 200 Big Lots stores that closed in the wake of bankruptcy, while HomeBuys is set to acquire one of the chain’s central Ohio locations.
About 220 Big Lots stores across 13 states are undergoing liquidation after the chain filed for bankruptcy last September , in preparation for Variety Wholesalers’ plan to renovate and reopen each location before the end of this summer, according to court documents. Nine storefronts are set to relaunch in April, followed by about 60 the first week of May, then 70 later that month, and any remaining locations in June.
Meanwhile, HomeBuys will be taking over two Ohio storefronts, one of which is in Pickerington at 1171 Hill Road North. Several other chains are also buying in, with Aldi purchasing nine locations across eight states, Burlington adding 12 stores across nine states to their collection of 22 Big Lots shops, and Tractor Supply Co. picking up 15 stores across 14 states.
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Ollie’s, a discount retailer based in Pennsylvania, announced in late February it purchased 40 more Big Lots storefronts that were marked for closure. The acquisition, which increases Ollie’s ownership of Big Lots stores to 63, includes locations nationwide, including four in Ohio. Watch a previous NBC4 report on Ollie’s acquisitions in the video player above. …