Walk into the Holly Square shopping center on South Main Street and you’ll notice something immediately. It’s a bit quieter than it used to be. For a long time, Big Lots in Laurinburg was that reliable anchor where you could grab a patio set, a weirdly specific brand of off-label chips, and a new rug all in one trip. But if you’ve been following the news lately, or just tried to pull into the parking lot, you know the vibe has shifted.
The retail world got rocked in late 2024 when Big Lots filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It wasn't just a corporate hiccup; it was a full-blown identity crisis. High inflation and a massive dip in furniture sales hit the chain hard. For a store that relies on us buying "big ticket" items like sectionals and mattresses, that was a death knell.
Is the Laurinburg Store Still Open?
Here is the deal. Throughout 2025, there was a massive back-and-forth about which North Carolina stores would survive. Variety Wholesalers—the folks who own Roses and Maxway—stepped in to buy a huge chunk of the dying brand. They snatched up over 200 locations to keep the Big Lots name alive.
Honestly, the Laurinburg location at 1664 S Main St Ste B has been on a rollercoaster. While many NC stores like the ones in Asheboro and Winston-Salem were earmarked for a "reopening wave" in early 2025, the Laurinburg spot faced stiffer competition from the nearby Walmart Supercenter and the general retail squeeze in Scotland County.
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Currently, local reports and mapping data show the store has faced significant service changes. If you’re planning a trip, you’ve gotta check the lights before you hop in the car. Some days it feels like the inventory is shifting toward that "extreme discount" model Variety Wholesalers loves, while other times the shelves look a little thin.
What You’ll Find Inside (If the Lights Are On)
If you haven't been in a while, it's not the same Big Lots from five years ago. The new owners are pivoting hard back to "closeout deals." Basically, they want it to feel like a treasure hunt again. You’re looking at:
- Furniture remains the big draw, though quality varies wildly. People swear by the Broyhill sectionals, but don't expect heirloom quality.
- The "Lot Lab" finds which are basically random electronics or kitchen gadgets that fell off a truck (metaphorically) and ended up at a 40% discount.
- Seasonal decor is still their bread and butter. If you need a 7-foot plastic skeleton in October or a glittery reindeer in November, this is still the spot.
I talked to a regular shopper recently who mentioned that the "daily essentials" section—stuff like laundry detergent and canned goods—has actually gotten more competitive. They're trying to steal some of that grocery traffic from the bigger guys.
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The Problem with Modern Big Lots
Look, we have to be real. The reviews for the Laurinburg location have been a mixed bag lately. You’ve got people praising the managers for staying professional during a chaotic bankruptcy transition. Then you’ve got others complaining about "disgusting bathrooms" or cashiers who look like they’d rather be anywhere else.
There’s also a weird trend with their online presence. A lot of folks in the 28352 zip code have complained about ordering items online only to have the orders vanish into a black hole. Pro tip: if you’re shopping Big Lots in Laurinburg, do it in person. Do not trust the website for "same-day delivery" right now. The infrastructure just isn't there yet.
Why This Store Matters to Scotland County
Laurinburg isn't exactly hurting for places to buy a gallon of milk, but losing a "middle-tier" furniture and home store hurts. It’s about options. When you lose a Big Lots, you're basically left with high-end furniture boutiques or the "everything is plastic" aisle at a big-box chain.
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The Holly Square area depends on that foot traffic. When the anchor store is in limbo, the smaller shops nearby feel the pinch. We've seen it happen in other NC towns where a Big Lots closes and the whole plaza starts to look like a ghost town within six months.
How to Shop It Smart in 2026
If you’re going to spend your hard-earned money here, you need a strategy. The "Everything Must Go" signs that popped up during the bankruptcy weren't always the best deals. Sometimes they mark things up just to "discount" them back to the original price.
- Check the "Open" Status Daily: Before you drive down Main Street, check their local landing page. The hours have been shifting—some days they close at 8 PM, others it's 9 PM.
- Inspect the Furniture: Since the ownership change, some of the "new" furniture lines are lower density. Sit on the couch. Shake the table.
- The Rewards Program: Their "Big Rewards" program actually still works and can stack with military discounts if you’ve got ID. It’s one of the few ways to actually beat Walmart’s pricing on home goods.
The future of Big Lots in Laurinburg is tied to how well Variety Wholesalers can trim the fat. They’re trying to make it a leaner, meaner discount machine. It might not be the "premium" discount experience people wanted, but in this economy, a bargain is a bargain.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check the current inventory at the 1664 S Main St location in person rather than relying on the app, as local stock levels are currently more accurate than the digital database. If you're hunting for furniture, visit on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning when the new shipments typically hit the floor and the "closeout" tags are freshly updated.