It felt like a punch to the gut for a lot of folks in Bulloch County when those yellow "Going Out of Business" signs first went up. Big Lots had been a fixture in the Statesboro Square Shopping Center for over twenty years. You knew where to get that specific weird brand of chips or a cheap patio set without driving to Savannah. Then, around Christmas 2024, the lights started going out.
People assumed it was just another victim of the "retail apocalypse." We’ve seen it before. A big chain files for Chapter 11, liquidates everything down to the floor wax, and leaves a hollowed-out shell of a building that sits empty for a decade. But the Statesboro Big Lots reopening didn't follow that script at all.
Actually, the comeback happened a lot faster than anyone expected. If you've driven past Northside Drive lately, you already know the parking lot isn't empty anymore.
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The Weird Path from Bankruptcy to Reopening
To understand why the store is back, you have to look at the mess that was the Big Lots bankruptcy. In September 2024, the company was drowning. Inflation was killing their margins, and people just weren't buying big-ticket furniture like they used to. They tried to sell the whole company to a private equity group called Nexus Capital Management, but that deal fell apart right before the holidays.
That's when things got frantic.
Just as the liquidation sales were hitting their peak in February 2025, a North Carolina-based company called Variety Wholesalers stepped into the courtroom. They didn't want the whole company—they just wanted the best pieces. They scooped up the leases for 219 stores, and luckily, the Statesboro location at 13 Lester Court was on that "save" list.
When Did It Actually Open?
Honestly, the timeline was a bit of a whirlwind.
- December 2024: "Going Out of Business" signs appeared.
- March 2025: The store officially went dark and the doors were locked.
- April 2025: A new sign appeared in the window: "The Comeback Starts Soon!"
- June 5, 2025: The doors finally swung back open for a soft launch.
It wasn't just Statesboro, either. Variety Wholesalers rolled these out in "waves." Statesboro was part of the fourth and final wave, opening alongside stores in Covington and LaGrange.
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What’s Different Inside?
If you walk in expecting the exact same store you visited in 2023, you’ll notice some changes. It’s the same brand name on the sign, but the strategy has shifted. Variety Wholesalers (the folks who own Roses and Maxway) are leaning heavily into what they call "extreme bargains."
The layout is a bit more open now. They’ve ditched some of the cluttered aisles for a cleaner floor plan. One of the biggest additions is a beefed-up apparel department. You’ll find more clothes for the whole family than the old Big Lots ever carried.
They also seem to be doubling down on the "treasure hunt" vibe. Lisa Seigies, the CEO of Variety Wholesalers, has been pretty vocal about wanting customers to find something new every single time they walk in. That means the inventory rotates fast. If you see a weirdly cheap air fryer or a designer-adjacent rug, you probably shouldn't wait until next Tuesday to buy it.
Why Statesboro Was Worth Saving
Retailers look at "trade areas." Statesboro is a hub. Between the Georgia Southern students needing cheap dorm furniture and the rural residents coming in from Portal or Brooklet for their weekly shopping, the foot traffic at Statesboro Square is consistent.
Variety Wholesalers clearly saw that. While hundreds of other Big Lots across 47 states are now being turned into Ollie's Bargain Outlets or just sitting vacant, the Statesboro site was deemed profitable enough to keep the original branding.
Is This the "New" Big Lots Permanently?
There’s always a bit of skepticism with these retail resurrections. Some people worry it’s just a temporary fix. However, the investment seems real. Variety Wholesalers didn't just buy the name; they bought the infrastructure.
They even brought back some of the original staff. Seeing a familiar face at the register goes a long way in a town like this. It makes the "reopening" feel less like a corporate takeover and more like a local recovery.
What You Should Know Before You Go
- Check the Inventory: They are still ramping up. The store might not be "perfectly" stocked yet, as they are adding new products weekly leading up to larger seasonal pushes.
- Furniture is Still Key: Despite the new apparel focus, they are keeping the big furniture section that the brand was known for.
- The "Soft Opening" vs. Grand Opening: While the store has been open since June 2025, they’ve been treating this period as a build-up. Look for major promotional events as we head into the next big holiday season.
The Statesboro Big Lots reopening is a rare "win" in a retail climate that usually only sees doors closing. It’s a bit of a relief for the Statesboro Square Shopping Center, too. Losing a major anchor like Big Lots would have been a disaster for the smaller shops nearby. Instead, the "Comeback" is officially in full swing.
Next Steps for Shoppers:
If you're looking for specific closeout deals, your best bet is to visit on weekday mornings when the new shipments from Variety Wholesalers typically hit the floor. Keep an eye on the local circulars, as the new ownership has been aggressive with "doorbuster" coupons to win back the customers who started shopping at Ollie's or Walmart during the five months the store was closed.