Big Lots Store Reopenings 2025: Full State List
If you’ve noticed a Big Lots near you lighting up again after months of darkness, you’re not imagining it. The discount retailer, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2024 and closed hundreds of stores, is staging an aggressive comeback.
Stores reopened in 2025: 219 ·
States with reopenings: 14 ·
Reopening waves: 4 ·
First reopening date: May 1, 2025 ·
Fourth wave date: June 1, 2025
Quick snapshot
- Full list of all store addresses for every reopened location
- Whether all 219 stores are original locations or include new sites
- Future plans for additional reopenings beyond 2025
- More reopenings may follow under new ownership (RetailMeNot via Facebook)
- Remodeled stores rolling out through 2025 (RetailMeNot via Facebook)
- Some markets could see additional waves later in the year (RetailMeNot via Facebook)
Six key data points capture the scale of the Big Lots reopening program.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of stores reopened | 219 |
| States involved | 14 |
| First reopening wave date | May 1, 2025 |
| Latest wave date | June 1, 2025 |
| Original bankruptcy year | 2024 |
| New owner | Variety Wholesalers |
The implication: the rebound is real but modest relative to what was lost.
Are any Big Lots reopening in California?
California was the largest state left in the dark after the 2024 closures. Its return to the reopening list signals that Big Lots’ new ownership sees the West Coast as essential to the company’s future.
Yes, Big Lots is confirming reopenings in California as part of the May and June 2025 waves. The state was included in the broader 14-state plan announced by Variety Wholesalers after its acquisition of 219 locations from bankruptcy, as reported by CBS News. While an exhaustive city-by-city list has not been published in a single source, multiple news reports confirm that California stores are among those reopening in the June 1 wave of 78 stores across 9 states, per The Hill.
California reopenings
- Reopening confirmed in multiple California cities as part of the June 1 wave
- State included in the 14-state May 2025 plan (CBS News)
- Specific city locations reported by local affiliates and press releases
Texas reopenings
- Big Lots is reopening stores across Texas in the 2025 waves
- Texas was included in the 14-state May 2025 reopening list (CBS News)
- Specific cities include locations covered by Houston-area news outlets
Georgia reopenings
- 5 stores reopening in Georgia during the May 2025 wave
- Cities include LaGrange, Covington, and Statesboro, confirmed by CBS News
- Georgia also appeared in the third wave on May 15, 2025 (Yahoo Finance)
Arizona reopenings
- Arizona stores are reopening as part of the May and June 2025 waves
- The state was included in the 14-state May 2025 plan (CBS News)
- Specific locations reported through local announcements
Missouri and Ohio reopenings
- Ohio had among the greatest number of May 2025 openings, alongside North Carolina and Pennsylvania (CBS News)
- Missouri is included in the 14-state reopening plan
- Both states appeared in the May 15 third wave (Yahoo Finance)
Is Big Lots still open?
“Big Lots is open” is no longer a simple yes-or-no answer. Some locations never closed, others are reopening after months dormant, and hundreds remain permanently shuttered. The map is fragmented, and shoppers need to check store by store.
This is the most common question for a reason: the answer depends entirely on which store you mean. Big Lots closed over 900 stores during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late 2024, according to CBS News. But the chain did not vanish entirely. Some locations — particularly in the Northeast and Midwest — stayed open through the bankruptcy process. And as of June 2025, 219 formerly shuttered locations have been revived.
Current status of Big Lots stores
- Hundreds of locations remain permanently closed from the 2024 bankruptcy
- 219 stores have reopened in phased waves since April 2025 (CBS News)
- Some stores never closed and continue operating under the original ownership structure
Which locations remain open?
- Stores that were not part of the 2024 closure wave stayed operational
- Reopened locations began welcoming customers again in April, May, and June 2025
- Every reopened store has been remodeled, per RetailMeNot via Facebook
Distinguishing between closed and reopened stores
- Check Big Lots’ official store locator for individual status
- Local news outlets in each state have published reopening lists
- The 219 reopened stores are spread across 14 states, not evenly distributed
What this means for shoppers: if your local Big Lots was among the hundreds that closed in 2024, there is roughly a one-in-four chance it has reopened or will reopen in 2025. For locations that never closed, business continues as usual under new ownership.
When are Big Lots stores reopening?
The reopening schedule unfolded in four waves between April and June 2025, each announced weeks in advance by Big Lots and its new owner Variety Wholesalers.
Reopening phases in 2025
- Wave 1 (April 10, 2025): 9 stores in 6 states — Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia (Cheapism)
- Wave 2 (May 1, 2025): First major phase of the 132-store, 14-state plan (CBS News)
- Wave 3 (May 15, 2025): 78 stores across 13 states (Yahoo Finance)
- Wave 4 (June 1, 2025): 78 stores across 9 states (The Hill)
May 1 and May 15 dates
- May 1, 2025: First phase of the 132-store plan launched (CBS News)
- May 15, 2025: 78 additional stores opened in 13 states, including North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia (Yahoo Finance)
- These two phases together covered Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia
June 1 fourth wave
- 78 stores reopened on June 1, 2025, across 9 states (The Hill)
- This wave pushed the total to 219 reopened stores
- Remodeled locations are part of the comeback strategy, according to RetailMeNot via Facebook
The trade-off: a rapid four-wave rollout means Big Lots restored nearly a quarter of its former footprint in under 60 days. The speed suggests Variety Wholesalers prioritized getting cash flow moving over a slow, measured return.
How many Big Lots stores are reopening?
219 stores sounds like a lot — until you remember Big Lots operated roughly 1,400 locations before bankruptcy. The company recovered about 16% of its former store base. The rebound is real, but the scale is modest relative to what was lost.
The headline number is 219 stores reopened as of June 2025, confirmed by CBS News and Yahoo Finance. But the breakdown by phase tells a clearer story of how the footprint returned.
Total number of reopened stores
- 219 stores across 14 states (CBS News)
- Represents about 16% of the pre-bankruptcy store count of roughly 1,400
- All 219 were acquired by Variety Wholesalers out of bankruptcy
Breakdown by phase
- April 10 wave: 9 stores (Cheapism)
- May 1–15 waves: 132 stores combined (CBS News)
- June 1 wave: 78 stores (The Hill)
- Total across all four waves: 219
Comparison to original store count
- Big Lots operated roughly 1,400 stores before the 2024 bankruptcy
- Over 900 stores were closed during the Chapter 11 process
- 219 reopened stores = 16% of the pre-bankruptcy footprint
- Variety Wholesalers’ acquisition preserved roughly 219 of those locations
The trade-off: customers in states like Ohio, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania have the best odds of seeing a reopened store, while markets in the West and Northeast remain thinly covered.
Who acquired Big Lots?
The answer to this question explains why Big Lots is reopening stores at all — and why the rebound has been faster than many retail bankruptcies.
New ownership details
- Variety Wholesalers acquired 219 Big Lots locations out of bankruptcy in 2025 (CBS News)
- Variety Wholesalers is a retail holding company that operates discount stores across the Southeast and Midwest
- The acquisition included inventory, leases, and intellectual property for the acquired locations
Acquisition by new company
- Variety Wholesalers stepped in after Big Lots’ initial liquidation plans were announced
- The deal saved 219 locations from permanent closure
- Terms of the acquisition were not publicly disclosed in detail
Impact on reopening strategy
- New ownership financed the phased reopening program
- Remodeled stores are part of the post-acquisition strategy (RetailMeNot via Facebook)
- Variety Wholesalers’ existing distribution network may support the revived locations
Why this matters: Variety Wholesalers is not a household name, but it has experience running discount chains. The company’s decision to remodel stores rather than simply reopen them signals a long-term bet on the Big Lots brand rather than a short-term liquidation play.
Big Lots reopening timeline
The sequence of events from bankruptcy filing to 219 reopened stores unfolded in under a year.
- Late 2024: Big Lots files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closes over 900 stores (CBS News)
- Early 2025: Variety Wholesalers acquires 219 locations out of bankruptcy
- April 10, 2025: First 9 stores reopen in 6 states (Cheapism)
- May 1, 2025: First phase of the 132-store, 14-state reopening plan launches (CBS News)
- May 15, 2025: 78 stores reopen in 13 states as the third wave (Yahoo Finance)
- June 1, 2025: Fourth wave adds 78 stores across 9 states (The Hill)
- As of June 2025: 219 Big Lots stores reopened across 14 states
What’s confirmed and what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- 219 stores reopened across 14 states
- Reopenings occurred in multiple phases starting April 10, 2025
- Big Lots was acquired by Variety Wholesalers
- Stores have reopened in Georgia, Texas, California, Arizona, Missouri, Ohio, and others
- Each wave had specific, announced dates
What’s unclear
- Full list of all store addresses for every reopened location
- Whether all 219 stores are from the original closures or include new locations
- Future plans for additional reopenings beyond 2025
- Exact timeline for any potential fifth wave
Quotes from the comeback
“These remodeled stores are reopening through 2025, starting in April.”
— Big Lots press release, announcing the phased reopening plan, as summarized by RetailMeNot
“After four rounds of reopenings, a total of 219 Big Lots stores are now back in business.”
— Yahoo Finance, summarizing the full scope of the 2025 reopening program
For shoppers and investors alike, the question is whether 219 stores is a ceiling or a floor. Variety Wholesalers has not announced a fifth wave, and the company has not disclosed whether additional locations from the bankruptcy estate could be revived. The program has been aggressive — four waves in under 60 days — but the total footprint remains a fraction of what Big Lots once operated.
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For those planning to visit reopened stores, it’s also worth reviewing the Big Lots credit card status to understand payment changes.
Frequently asked questions
What caused Big Lots’ bankruptcy?
Big Lots filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2024 after declining sales, shifting consumer spending patterns, and an inability to refinance its debt. The company closed over 900 stores as part of the restructuring process, according to CBS News.
Will Big Lots reopen all its stores?
No. Only 219 of the over 900 closed stores are reopening under Variety Wholesalers’ ownership. The remaining hundreds of locations are permanently closed, and no plans have been announced to revive them.
How does Big Lots’ reopening affect employees?
Each reopened store hires local staff, but Variety Wholesalers has not disclosed total headcount numbers. Former Big Lots employees have priority in hiring at some locations, though policies vary by store.
Can I shop at Big Lots online while stores are reopening?
Yes. Biglots.com continues to operate for online shopping and delivery. The reopening of physical stores does not affect the e-commerce channel, which remained active throughout the bankruptcy and transition.
How to find the nearest reopened Big Lots?
Use Big Lots’ official store locator on their website, or check local news outlets that have published reopening lists for each state. The 219 reopened stores are concentrated in 14 states, primarily in the Southeast, Midwest, and Southwest.
Are Big Lots gift cards still valid after bankruptcy?
Yes, Big Lots gift cards remain valid and can be used at any open or reopened location as well as online. The company honored existing gift card obligations through the bankruptcy process.
Will Big Lots reopen in Ohio?
Yes. Ohio had among the greatest number of May 2025 openings, alongside North Carolina and Pennsylvania, according to CBS News. Multiple Ohio locations reopened in the May 1 and May 15 waves.
For the discount retail shopper in any of the 14 active states, the choice is becoming clearer: a remodeled Big Lots with fresh inventory under new management, or a permanently dark storefront. The reopening program has given the brand a second act, but whether that act runs for years or just through 2025 depends on whether Variety Wholesalers can make the math work at 219 locations — and whether shoppers show up.
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