Closing Time: Big Lots Bids Adieu to Washington Shoppers

Another big name retailer is shutting down all its stores nationwide.

Despite the announcement to keep select locations open, Big Lots now is planning "Going Out of Business" sales at all remaining locations, including the six in Washington.

• Kennewick
• Longview
• Moses Lake
• Tacoma
• Vancouver
• Yakima

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Previously, the company planned to sell its assets to Nexus Capital Management, but in a statement Thursday, Big Lots said the deal had collapsed. However, the company still plans to explore other options, including negotiating with Nexus or another buyer, hopefully to complete a sale by January.

Bruce Thorn, Big Lots' President and Chief Executive Officer, said:

"We all have worked extremely hard and have taken every step to complete a going concern sale. 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."

Big Lots had about 27,700 employees with more than 1,300 stores in 48 states when the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September.

According to a layoff notice, up to 555 employees will lose their jobs. The layoffs will start the week of December 29, 2024 and are expected to be completed by April 2025.

Big Lots is continuing to serve customers in-store and online, and will provide updates as available.

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Big Lots was founded in 1967 as Consolidated Stores Corporation in Columbus, Ohio. Specializing in closeout and overstock merchandise, its first closeout store was called Odd Lots.