By Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania — Big Lots is making a big comeback.
The discount retailer filed for bankruptcy and closed stores last year, but a new owner was found and stores are starting to reopen including the Big Lots on Simpson Ferry Road in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.
Management at the Camp Hill location is desperately seeking new employees to staff the store for its opening date scheduled May 15, 2025.
Variety Wholesalers is now in control of 219 Big Lots locations and two distribution centers. The deal to take over the closed Big Lots was cemented in December, with part of the agreement being to operate the stores under the Big Lots brand.
Some locations already reopened on April 10, and another 55 locations will reopen on May 1, with two rounds of openings happening through early June.
Variety Wholesalers promised “remodeled stores, a large selection of closeout deals and new merchandise categories, including apparel for the family and electronics.”
Nine stores reopened last week with many more scheduled to open in May.
Once all the stores reopen, the entire chain will have a grand opening celebration in the fall.
“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,” the company said in a news release.
Variety Wholesalers is not the only company that purchased shuttered Big Lots locations.
Ocean State Job Lot said last month that it would buy 15 stores in Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont.
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet also said it has purchased 40 closed Big Lots locations.
At the time of the bankruptcy, the original Big Lots had more than 800 locations nationwide.
Harrisburg100 