Columbia's retail landscape is shifting. Fast. If you've driven down the Northeast side of town lately, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The Big Lots on Two Notch Road has been a neighborhood staple for years, tucked into the Sparkleberry Square area, serving as that reliable go-to for everything from cheap patio furniture to bulk snacks you didn't know you needed. But things are getting complicated for the discount giant.
It's weird. You walk in expecting the usual treasure hunt, but the headlines tell a different story. Big Lots filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in late 2024, and the ripple effects are hitting South Carolina hard.
What’s Actually Happening at Big Lots Two Notch Road Columbia SC?
Look, people are worried. I get it. When a massive retailer starts talking about "operational streamlining," it usually means the local store you've shopped at for a decade might be on the chopping block. For the Big Lots Two Notch Road Columbia SC location, the situation is a bit of a moving target.
The parent company, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, initially flagged hundreds of stores for closure across the United States. In South Carolina, several locations—including those in Beaufort and even some near Charleston—were quickly added to the "going out of business" list. The Two Notch Road site, specifically located at 2540 Two Notch Rd (though some locals confuse it with the larger Sparkleberry site at 10010 Two Notch Rd), has faced intense scrutiny.
Why? It’s simple. Rent is up. Consumer spending is down. People are ditching the "middle-of-the-road" discount stores for either ultra-cheap options like Temu or high-end experiences. Big Lots got caught in the middle.
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The Real Deal on the Inventory
If you visit the Two Notch store today, you’ll notice the vibe is... different. Usually, it's a mix of Broyhill furniture and random seasonal decor. Nowadays, the shelves feel like a snapshot of a company trying to figure out its next move. You’ll find incredible deals on closeout electronics and home goods, but the consistency isn't there anymore.
- Furniture: Still the big draw. Their sofas are still some of the cheapest in Richland County.
- The "Lot" Finds: You might find a name-brand cereal for two bucks or a weirdly specific gardening tool.
- The Atmosphere: Honestly, it’s a bit hit-or-miss. Some days it’s fully stocked; other days, it feels like they’re waiting for a truck that’s a week late.
Why This Specific Location Matters to Columbia
The Two Notch corridor is a beast. It connects the heart of downtown Columbia to the sprawling suburbs of Northeast Richland. It’s a high-traffic zone, but it’s also highly competitive. You’ve got Target, Walmart, and a dozen dollar stores all within a five-mile radius of the Big Lots Two Notch Road Columbia SC site.
When a store like this closes or scales back, it’s not just about losing a place to buy cheap towels. It’s about the "anchor effect." These big-box retailers bring people to the surrounding plazas. If Big Lots goes, the smaller nail salons, pizza joints, and dry cleaners nearby start to see a dip in foot traffic. It’s a domino effect that Columbia has seen before in the old Columbia Mall area.
The shift in retail isn't just a "big corporation" problem. It's a "how we live" problem. Most people in Columbia are doing their grocery shopping at Publix or Kroger and then hitting Amazon for the rest. The "browsing" culture that fueled Big Lots for thirty years is evaporating.
The Bankruptcy Context: Not Just a Local Issue
Nexus Capital Management is the firm currently eyeing the purchase of the company’s assets. They aren't doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. They want the profitable stores.
If the Big Lots Two Notch Road Columbia SC branch wants to survive, it has to prove it’s profitable. High theft rates, rising labor costs, and the general "retail apocalypse" make that a tall order. According to SEC filings, the company cited "high inflation and interest rates" as the primary reason consumers stopped buying big-ticket items like dining sets and mattresses.
And let’s be real. If you’re living in Columbia and you need a new bed, are you going to Big Lots or are you waiting for a sale at Rooms To Go? That’s the hurdle they can't seem to clear.
What Shoppers Should Watch For
If you’re a regular at the Two Notch location, you need to be smart. This isn't the time to sit on those Big Lots Rewards points. Use them.
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Liquidation Red Flags
When a store starts the liquidation process, the signs are obvious.
- "Everything Must Go" Banners: These aren't just for marketing. Once these go up, the return policy usually vanishes.
- The Discount Staircase: Prices drop 10%, then 20%, then 40%. If you see 70% off, the shelves are likely already bare.
- Third-Party Liquidators: Often, a separate company comes in to manage the closing. This means your local managers have zero control over the pricing.
The Sparkleberry vs. Two Notch Confusion
There's often a mix-up because "Two Notch Road" is incredibly long. The location at 10010 Two Notch Rd (near the Sandhills area) often performs differently than the one closer to the city center. If you're looking for specific items, it's worth checking both, as their inventory cycles don't always align.
Is it over for Big Lots in Columbia?
Not necessarily. Bankruptcy doesn't always mean total extinction. It often means a "right-sizing."
For the Big Lots Two Notch Road Columbia SC community, the future depends on the lease negotiations happening behind closed doors in a courtroom in Delaware. If the landlord at the shopping center is willing to cut a deal to keep the space occupied, the store stays. If they think they can get a Ross or a Marshalls to move in for more money, Big Lots is gone.
It's a tough pill to swallow for the employees who have worked there for years. Many of these folks know their regulars by name. That’s the human cost of corporate restructuring that gets lost in the spreadsheets.
Actionable Steps for Local Shoppers
If you want to make the most of the current situation at the Big Lots on Two Notch, here is exactly what you should do.
Check the Rewards Program immediately. Log into your Big Rewards account. If you have "Big Bucks" or earned rewards, spend them this week. In bankruptcy scenarios, loyalty programs can be frozen or terminated with very little notice. Don't leave money on the table.
Price match—but do it yourself. Big Lots used to be the undisputed price leader, but that’s not always true now. Before buying a piece of furniture at the Two Notch store, pull up your phone and check the price at the nearby Walmart or on Wayfair. Sometimes the "discount" price at Big Lots is actually higher than the standard retail price elsewhere.
Inspect every "Final Sale" item. If the store enters a closing phase, every sale is final. Check the corners of that dresser. Zip and unzip that cushion. If it's broken, you aren't getting your money back once you leave the parking lot.
Watch the "Quiet" Sales. Often, the best deals aren't the ones on the big signs. Check the end-caps in the grocery and chemical aisles. They frequently mark down name-brand laundry detergents and snacks just to move volume before a transition.
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Keep an eye on the lease signs. If you see "Space Available" signs appearing on the exterior of the building, the writing is on the wall. That’s your cue that the store has likely decided not to renew its lease, regardless of what the official corporate press releases say.
The retail landscape in Columbia is changing, and while the fate of the Big Lots Two Notch Road Columbia SC location remains tied to broader national trends, being an informed shopper is your best defense against the uncertainty.