After Bankruptcy, Popular Discount Retailer To Open 7 New FL Stores

FLORIDA — Months after declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy and shuttering hundreds of locations, new owners told Patch there are plans to open seven new Big Lots stores in Florida.

Recently, Variety Wholesalers announced its intentions to establish new Big Lots stores in several states, including in Florida.

Variety is owner of Roses, Roses Express and Maxway. The North Carolina-based giant took over 219 Big Lots locations after an agreement between the popular discount retailer and Gordon Brothers Retail Partners in January.

"We're thrilled to bring the Big Lots! brand back to life by offering more deals than ever, lots of famous brands and a new apparel department for the entire family,” Lisa Seigies, president and CEO of Variety Wholesalers, said in a news release. “We’re opening stores quickly so we can serve the community. We know the stores won’t be perfect to start, but each week we’ll add more new products as we build towards the grand opening celebration in the fall. Every time a customer visits Big Lots! we want them to find something new and exciting!”

The first wave of store openings began on April 10 in Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee and other parts of the South.

Florida will be in an upcoming round of openings, with Variety telling Patch the following stores will open on June 5:

• 6247 Highway 90, Milton
• 2384 Commercial Way, Spring Hill
• 3402 13th St., Ste. 100, St. Cloud
• 843 W. Bloomingdale Ave., Brandon
• 3048 State Road 674, Ruskin
• 13970 N. Cleveland Ave., North Ft. Myers
• 4901 Palm Beach Blvd., Unit 27B, Fort Myers

On Thursday, May 15, the following Big Lots stores opened:

• 146 SE Highway 19, Crystal River
• 9119 Merrill Road, Jacksonville
• 4700 Highway 90 E., Marianna
• 122 S. Nova Road, Ormond Beach
• 225 S. Tyndall Pkwy., Panama City

Variety promised remodeled stores, closeout deals and new merchandise categories for shoppers.

Once completed, new Big Lots stores will have opened in North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

RELATED:

• 26 FL Big Lots To Be Shuttered Amid Nationwide Closures: See Where
• Big Lots Closing Dozens Of Stores; FL Could Lose Locations

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