After closing hundreds of stores and filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this year, discount retailer Big Lots is preparing to close its remaining locations.
The closures include four in Polk County.
According to a news release issued Thursday by the Columbus, Ohio-based chain, the company is set to commence “going out of business” sales at its remaining 963 stores “to protect the value of its estate.”
The decision comes as the chain’s planned sale of the bulk of its assets and business operations to Nexus Capital Management fell through.
“We all have worked extremely hard and have taken every step to complete a going concern sale,” said Bruce Thorn, Big Lots’ president and chief executive officer, in a statement. “While we remain hopeful that we can close an alternative going concern transaction, in order to protect the value of the Big Lots estate, we have made the difficult decision to begin the GOB process.”
The company said it will continue to serve customers at its remaining stores and its website, biglots.com.
Nationwide, the chain has already closed at least 429 stores this year.
In Florida, Big Lots operates 72 stores, including three in Jacksonville, according to the company’s website. In July, two months before filing for bankruptcy, the chain operated as many as 106 stores in the state.
Among the closures in Florida over the summer was Big Lots’ Orange Park location at 700 Blanding Blvd. Other area stores at 9119 Merrill Road, 9625 Crosshill Blvd. and 9718 Old St. Augustine Road remained open.
Now those stores and others across the country are expected to begin sales to clear out remaining inventory. As of Thursday evening, though, no “going out of business” sales were listed for the stores on the company’s website.
Already this year, Walgreens closed locations, Walmart closed all 51 of its health centers, restaurant chains like Red Lobster, Tijuana Flats, TGI Fridays and Hooters announced closings and retail outlets such as rue21, Express, Best Buy, Macy’s, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar all announced bankruptcies or location reductions.
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What Big Lots stores remain in Polk County?
There are four, according to a search on Google Maps.
- 4212 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland
- 4233 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland
- 1520 3rd St. S.W., Winter Haven
- 35884 U.S. 27, Haines City
Which Big Lots stores have already closed in Florida?
Among the stores in the state already shuttered this year are:
- Boca Raton, 21697 State Road 7
- Bonita Springs, 25191 Chamber Of Commerce Drive
- Boynton Beach, 901 N. Congress Ave.
- Bradenton, 7381 52nd Place E.
- Clewiston, 328 E Sugarland Highway
- Coconut Creek, 4847 Coconut Creek Parkway
- Daytona Beach, 2400 W. International Speedway
- Destin, 34940 Emerald Coast Parkway
- Fort Myers, 15271 McGregor Blvd.
- Hallandale, 1761 E Hallandale Beach Blvd
- Hollywood, 3921 Oakwood Blvd
- Miami, 8265 W. Flagler St.
- MiamiLakes, 5580 NW 167th St
- Naples, 2882 Tamiami Trail E.
- Orange Park, 700 Blanding Blvd
- Orlando
- Plantation, 7067 W. Broward Blvd
- Pompano Beach, 1440 Ne 23rd St
- Port Richey, 11854 US Highway 19
- Royal Palm Beach, 511 N. SR 7
- Sarasota, 3750 Bee Ridge Road
- Stuart, 2236 SE Federal Highway
- Tampa, 12601 Citrus Plaza Drive
- Tarpon Springs, 41306 US Highway 19 N.
C.A. Bridges and Cheryl McCloud of the USA TODAY Network – Florida contributed to this report.
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