When will Big Lots reopen? Timeline for ‘soft openings’ of store locations as bankruptcy process continues

Big Lots, a discount retail chain, is moving forward with its path after filing for bankruptcy protection. Variety Wholesalers, a North Carolina-based retail company, is taking control of hundreds of Big Lots locations, mostly in the South and Midwest. A tentative plan is in place for the "soft openings" of many of these stores, with openings expected to begin in early April and continue through early June. The openings will be completed in four separate "waves," but the timeline could still change. The states with the most Big Lots locations that are expected to move forward include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and others. Variety Wholesalers is still determining which wave will be assigned to certain stores as the bankruptcy process continues. The company will share the full list of store openings when it becomes available. Before reopening, the locations will be dark for a period of weeks or months as Variety determines what preparations or alterations are needed. Big Lots had previously announced it would close every location, but Variety's takeover has changed that plan. Variety Wholesalers is the parent company of other discount retail chains, including Roses, Maxway, and Super 10.