If you’ve driven down South 11th Street lately, you probably noticed the parking lot at the old Belle Plaza looks a lot emptier than it used to. It’s kinda surreal. For years, that Big Lots in Niles Michigan was the go-to spot for everything from cheap seasonal porch decor to those oversized bags of off-brand pretzels you can't find anywhere else. But if you were hoping to pop in for a new patio set or some discounted laundry detergent this week, you're out of luck. The store is officially gone.
Honestly, the closure wasn't a total shock to anyone following the retail news cycle, but it still stings for the local community. It wasn't just a store; it was a landmark for bargain hunters in Berrien County.
What Actually Happened to Big Lots in Niles Michigan?
The Niles location at 1907 S 11th St didn't just vanish overnight. It was part of a massive, nationwide "cleansing" of the Big Lots fleet. Back in late 2024, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Initially, they said they’d only close a few hundred stores. Then, that number kept climbing. By the time 2025 rolled around, the situation for Michigan locations turned pretty grim.
Basically, the company was struggling with a "pullback in discretionary spending." That's corporate-speak for "people stopped buying couches and gazebos because eggs cost six dollars."
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The Niles store was eventually listed among dozens of other Michigan sites slated for liquidation. We saw the "Going Out of Business" banners go up, the discounts hit 50% or 70% off, and then—darkness. The lease was even put up for auction alongside hundreds of others across 47 states. It’s a pattern we’ve seen with other big-box retailers in the area, but Big Lots felt different because it occupied such a specific niche between a grocery store and a furniture warehouse.
Why the Bankruptcy Hit So Hard
You’ve got to look at the math to understand why Big Lots in Niles Michigan couldn't survive the tide. In early 2024, Big Lots reported a net loss of over $200 million in just one quarter. Sales were down 10% year-over-year. Bruce Thorn, the CEO at the time, pointed to high inflation and interest rates.
When people are worried about their mortgage, they aren't buying a $899 sectional sofa, even if it is a "big deal."
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Niles is a tough market for retail anyway. You’ve got competition from the Walmart Supercenter just down the road and the Meijer over on 11th. Plus, with South Bend just a short hop across the state line, the Niles Big Lots had to work twice as hard to keep foot traffic consistent. Once the bankruptcy wheels started turning, the overhead for a massive footprint like the one in Belle Plaza just didn't make sense for a company trying to stay afloat.
The Michigan Store Closure Timeline
- September 2024: Big Lots files for Chapter 11 and announces an initial list of 344 closures.
- October-November 2024: More stores are added to the "chopping block," including several in the Michiana region.
- December 2024: A planned sale to Nexus Capital Management hits a snag, leading to fears that all remaining stores might close.
- Early 2025: The Niles location finishes its liquidation and shuts its doors for good.
What's Next for the Belle Plaza Space?
So, what do we do now? The big question for Niles residents is what fills that void. We’ve seen this story before. When a big retailer leaves, the building often sits empty until a "bargain" brand like Ollie’s Bargain Outlet or even a Spirit Halloween (temporarily) moves in.
There is some hope, though. In other parts of Michigan, like Big Rapids and Ironwood, Ollie’s has already started moving into former Big Lots buildings. They thrive on the same "closeout" model that Big Lots used to dominate. Whether that happens on 11th Street remains to be seen, but the real estate is prime. It’s right near the intersection of US-12 and M-51, which is one of the busiest corridors in the city.
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For now, shoppers are mostly heading to the Big Lots in Mishawaka or searching for deals at the various discount bins and thrift stores that dot the Niles landscape. It’s definitely a shift in how people shop locally.
How to Find Similar Deals in Niles
If you were a regular at the Big Lots in Niles Michigan, you’re probably looking for a new place to score those random finds. You've still got a few solid options in the immediate area:
- Ollie's Bargain Outlet (South Bend/Mishawaka): It’s the closest thing to the Big Lots experience. It’s messy, it’s random, but the prices are legitimately low.
- Dollar General Market: For the grocery side of things, the DG Markets in the area have stepped up their game, though they lack the furniture and home decor variety.
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore: If it was the furniture you were after, the ReStore often has better quality items for a fraction of the price, plus the money stays local.
It’s a bummer to see a long-standing business leave, especially one that provided jobs to folks right here in town. The "Live Big, Save Lots" era in Niles has officially ended.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check your wallet for any lingering Big Lots gift cards. While the Niles store is closed, you can usually still use them on their website or at the nearest surviving locations in Indiana—just do it sooner rather than later. Keep an eye on local zoning board meetings or the Niles Daily Star for news on who might be taking over the Belle Plaza lease, as a new tenant could bring fresh jobs back to the 11th Street corridor.