If you’ve lived in Lenoir County for a while, you know the shopping landscape has changed. A lot. It’s not just about the big malls anymore; it's about where you can actually find a decent couch without selling a kidney or where you can grab bulk snacks for a Sunday football game. That’s usually where Big Lots in Kinston North Carolina comes into the conversation. Located right on West Vernon Avenue, it’s one of those stores that everyone knows, but people have surprisingly strong opinions about once they get inside.
Honestly, it’s a weird mix. You walk in for laundry detergent and walk out wondering if that $400 sectional would fit in your SUV. It happens.
The Kinston location specifically—Store #1562 for those who track that kind of thing—serves a pretty wide radius. Since Kinston acts as a hub for smaller spots like Deep Run, La Grange, and even folks coming up from Jasper, this store gets a lot of foot traffic. But with the recent corporate news about Big Lots closing hundreds of stores nationwide in 2024 and 2025, a lot of locals are asking the same thing: Is our Kinston spot staying open?
The Current State of the Kinston Store
Let’s get the big elephant out of the room first. Big Lots, as a company, has been through the wringer lately. They filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late 2024, and the list of store closures seemed to grow every single week. It felt like every time you refreshed a news feed, another North Carolina location was getting the axe. We saw stores in Durham, Charlotte, and Raleigh start their "Everything Must Go" sales.
But here’s the deal with the Big Lots in Kinston North Carolina.
As of right now, the Vernon Avenue location has managed to dodge the initial waves of mass closures that hit the more expensive metro areas. Why? Usually, it comes down to lease costs and performance. Kinston is a high-volume area for discount retail. When the economy gets a bit shaky, people stop going to high-end furniture boutiques and start looking at the Broyhill collections at Big Lots. It’s a survival tactic.
However, "open today" doesn't always mean "safe forever." If you’re planning a big purchase—like a mattress or a patio set—you’ve got to be smart about how you spend your money there right now.
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What’s Actually on the Shelves Right Now?
If you haven’t been in lately, the inventory is... eclectic. That’s the polite way to put it. You’ll find the standard grocery aisle which, let’s be real, is mostly high-end snacks and closeout canned goods. But the real reason most Kinstonites head there is the furniture department.
- Furniture and Mattresses: They’ve leaned heavily into the Broyhill brand. It’s decent quality for the price. You aren't getting heirloom mahogany, but for a starter home or a rental in Kinston, it does the job.
- Seasonal Decor: This is probably their strongest suit. Whether it’s the massive plastic skeletons in October or the gazebos in May, they tend to overstock on the stuff that makes your yard look festive.
- The Closeout Aisle: This is the "treasure hunt" part. Sometimes it’s just weird flavored sodas, and other times it’s name-brand skincare that somehow ended up in a warehouse in Eastern NC.
The layout of the Kinston store is pretty standard for the older "Heritage" format. It’s not one of those fancy, ultra-modernized versions you might see in a tech hub, but it’s clean enough. The staff there? Mostly locals who have been there for years. They know the regulars. That’s the Kinston vibe—you’re probably going to see someone you went to high school with while you’re picking out a rug.
Why Location Matters for Local Shoppers
The store is situated at 2405 W Vernon Ave. If you know Kinston, you know that stretch is the gauntlet of retail. You’ve got the Walmart Supercenter nearby, the Piggly Wiggly, and plenty of fast food. It’s convenient. You can hit Big Lots and then grab a biscuit at Bojangles right afterward.
But there’s a strategic reason to shop here over the Greenville or New Bern locations. Taxes and traffic.
Navigating Greenville on a Saturday is a nightmare. Honestly, it’s a headache I usually try to avoid. Kinston offers a much more relaxed shopping experience. You aren't fighting for a parking spot. You aren't waiting in a 20-minute line just to buy a pack of batteries. For folks in Lenoir County, the Big Lots in Kinston North Carolina represents a bit of convenience that the bigger cities just can't match.
The Real Talk on Quality
Is the furniture at Big Lots actually good? It depends on your expectations. If you’re comparing it to a custom-build shop, no. If you’re comparing it to flat-pack furniture from a big blue-and-yellow Swedish warehouse, Big Lots usually wins because most of it comes pre-assembled or requires very little work.
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The "Real Living" brand is their entry-level stuff. It’s fine for a college dorm or a guest room. But if you want something that lasts ten years, you look at the Broyhill line. The sofas are usually built with better frames.
Pro tip for Kinston shoppers: Always check the "Open Box" section near the back loading dock area. Sometimes people order a sectional, realize it doesn't fit through their front door, and return it. The store marks it down significantly just to get it off the floor. I’ve seen 30% to 50% discounts just because of a tiny scuff on the back of a chair that’s going against a wall anyway.
Understanding the "Big Rewards" System
Look, I hate signing up for rewards programs as much as the next person. My inbox is already a disaster. But if you're hitting the Big Lots in Kinston North Carolina more than once a month, you're actually losing money by not being in their system.
They do these "20% off your entire purchase" weekends pretty often. When you're buying a $800 sofa, that 20% is $160. That’s a lot of gas money. Or a lot of Bojangles. They also send out $5 or $10 coupons just for spending a certain amount. It’s one of the few loyalty programs that doesn't feel like a total scam, mostly because the discounts apply to the stuff that’s already on sale.
The Future of Big Lots in Eastern North Carolina
We have to talk about the long game. The retail industry is shifting. More people are buying their paper towels on Amazon and their furniture from Wayfair. This puts stores like Big Lots in a weird spot. To survive, the Kinston store has to prove it provides something the internet can’t.
That "something" is the "buy it and take it home today" factor.
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In a town like Kinston, where we appreciate being able to see and touch a product before dropping a week's wages on it, that physical presence matters. The company knows this. Their recent strategy shift is moving away from being a "mini-Walmart" and moving toward being a "home discount leader." Expect to see fewer aisles of random groceries and more aisles of lamps, pillows, and kitchen gadgets.
Is it worth the drive?
If you’re coming from Pink Hill or Grifton, yeah, it’s worth the trip—especially if you combine it with other errands. If you’re looking for specific household staples, it’s often cheaper than the local pharmacies or smaller grocery stores.
However, if you're looking for high-end electronics or specialized hardware, don't bother. That’s not what they do. They do "the basics and the big stuff" well.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
If you’re heading out to the Big Lots in Kinston North Carolina this week, here is how you should handle it to get the best deal:
- Check the Weekly Ad Online First: Don't just wing it. Their website allows you to set "Kinston" as your home store so you can see exactly what’s in stock.
- Measure Your Vehicle: This sounds stupid, but the number of people I see in the Kinston parking lot trying to shove a queen-sized headboard into a Honda Civic is hilarious. Measure twice, drive once.
- Military and Senior Discounts: Kinston has a huge veteran population. Big Lots typically offers a 10% discount for active duty and veterans, though you usually need to be part of their rewards program to trigger it. Ask at the register.
- The "Big Squeeze" Strategy: If you see a seasonal item you love (like a patio set) and it's near the end of the season, wait. Once those "Clearance" stickers hit 50%, they move fast. In Kinston, the gardening stuff starts marked down heavily by late July.
The Kinston Big Lots isn't just a store; it’s a bellwether for the local economy. As long as the lights are on and the Broyhill signs are up, it’s a sign that the Vernon Ave corridor is holding its own. It’s about practical shopping for real people. Whether you're furnishing a new place or just need a cheap bag of coffee, it stays a staple of Lenoir County life.
Just make sure you check the upholstery for staples before you load it up—nobody likes a scratch on the way home.