Big Lots to reopen a dozen stores in Florida

Variety Wholesalers, a North Carolina retailer, is reopening at least a dozen Big Lots stores in Florida including locations in five cities across the Gulf Coast.

A company spokesperson, in an email, says the local stores going back into business are in Spring Hill, Brandon, Ruskin, North Fort Myers and Fort Myers. Those locations will open in May and June.

The spokesperson did not give an exact number of stores or share the addresses of those reopening only saying the company will announce the exact dates and details on social media later.

Variety Wholesalers owns a total of 219 Big Lots locations it bought after the chain filed for bankruptcy in September and was subsequently sold to Boston-based Gordon Bros. which reportedly paid $495 million.

The discount retailer had going-out-of-business sales going on at about 870 stores at the time it was sold.

(Variety bought the stores from Gordon as part of the liquidation company’s agreement to buy Big Lots.)

Variety currently operates about 400 retails stores in 18 states under banners including Roses Discount Stores, Roses Express and Maxway.

It announced earlier this week that it would reopen nine Big Lots locations April 10 and another 55 May 1. The remaining stores, which include the Florida locations, will reopen through June.

There will be a grand opening event to mark the chain's comeback later this year.

The first nine stores to open are in Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia and Tennessee.

Variety says the returning stores have been remodeled and that there will be “a large selection” of closeout deals and new merchandise categories, including apparel for the family and electronics.

But the company’s President and CEO Lisa Seigies in a statement urged customers to be patient in the early days. “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.”