Big Lots reopens a dozen stores in Pennsylvania following new ownership.

Big Lots, a prominent discount retailer, has announced plans to reopen 132 of its stores in May 2025 as part of a revitalization strategy spearheaded by its new ownership. This initiative is a response to the challenges the company faced after filing for bankruptcy in the fall of 2024 and experiencing a failed sale in December. Following its bankruptcy declaration, Big Lots initiated a going-out-of-business process, aimed at preserving the brand’s value, which ultimately led to the closure of numerous locations, including several in the Philadelphia region.

In early January 2025, a potential turnaround was on the horizon when Big Lots successfully found a buyer. The company struck a deal with Gordon Brothers Retail Partners to transfer some of its locations to Variety Wholesalers, a North Carolina-based firm known for operating a variety of discount retail chains primarily in the Southeast United States. Under this agreement, Variety Wholesalers is set to acquire between 200 and 400 Big Lots stores, along with up to two distribution centers, intending to continue operating under the established Big Lots brand.

The upcoming reopenings will take place across 14 states, with a total of 13 stores slated for Pennsylvania. However, none of the new locations will be in the Philadelphia area, which has raised concerns among local Big Lots patrons, who will need to drive at least an hour and a half to reach the nearest store. The closest reopenings to Philadelphia will occur in Lehighton, near Jim Thorpe, as well as in Cleona, close to Hershey, and East Stroudsburg in the Poconos. Other locations set to reopen in Pennsylvania include Camp Hill, DuBois, Dunmore, Erie, Eynon, Franklin, Lewisburg, Meadville, and New Castle.

No plans have been disclosed for reopening stores in New Jersey or Delaware as part of this initiative. The May reopening follows the earlier resumption of nine Big Lots stores in six southern states by Variety Wholesalers in April, which the company described as the first of four waves of openings.

As Big Lots attempts to regain its footing in the retail landscape, stakeholders and local consumers will be observing how this revitalization effort unfolds. With the potential for long-term growth on the horizon, the reopening of these stores may provide crucial support in reestablishing the brand’s presence in the competitive discount retail sector.