Henderson, N.C. — The first nine Big Lots stores under Variety Wholesalers’ ownership will have soft openings on April 10. And when the nameplate does reopen, the brand doesn’t expect to initially be as reliant on furniture.
First reported by Fast Company, the Henderson, N.C.-based retailer — which owns and operates 380 stores in the Southeastern U.S. under the Roses, Roses Express, Maxway, Bill’s Dollar Stores, Super 10, Super Dollar and Bargain Town banners — acquired the brand from Gordon Brothers, which bought Big Lots’ assets out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year.
Jeff King, Variety’s vice president of sales and marketing, told HTT sister publication Furniture Today that the company plans to soft open a total of 220 stores by June 5, but room remains for additional growth.
“We’ll still be aggressive looking for opportunities to open more Big Lots stores,” King said. “We want to make sure the growth is strategic and that we can provide the best chance for success.”
The first nine stores to open under Variety’s stewardship are in Mt. Sterling, Ky.; Metairie, La.; Tupelo and Pearl, Miss.; Asheboro, N.C.; Clarksville, Gallatin and Dickson, Tenn.; and Roanoke, Va.
“Those stores closed earlier in the liquidation process,” King said. “Many of the stores are still conducting liquidation sales, so as those come off, we’ll have a wave two, wave three and a wave four.”
King said the second wave of soft openings is planned for May 1, with May 15 anticipated for the third wave. He said the company plans on holding grand openings for its Big Lots stores in October.
As far as assortment, King said the Broyhill brand was not included in Variety’s acquisition, and that furniture isn’t going to be as much of a focus in the early days of Big Lots’ revival, although he said that could change.