B-TOWN BIZ: Big Lots permanently closing its Burien location

Burien’s Big Lots – located at 14907 4th Ave SW (map below) – is one of 140 stores slated to close permanently soon, the company announced.

The company stated in a filing with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) last month that it planned to close up to 140 stores nationwide, including the Burien one and 11 others out of 26 locations in the state of Washington.

In January, 2020, the discount store moved from its former location at 125 SW 148th Street to its new one in the Burien Town Plaza.

Big Lots is a national discount chain that sells a range of products, such as housewares, groceries, furniture, holiday items and more. They operate(d) more than 1,400 stores in 47 states.

According to Wikipedia:

“The Big Lots chain traces its history back to 1967 when Consolidated Stores Corporation was formed in Ohio by Sol Shenk. In 1982, Consolidated Stores Corp. opened its first closeout store, called Odd Lots, in Columbus, Ohio. In 1997, Big Lots Inc. bought out ‘MacFrugals’ (Pic ‘N’ Save) stores for $995 million in stock, eventually converting those to the Big Lots brand.”

The number of store closures significantly exceeds what Big Lots initially disclosed in a securities filing last month. In that filing, the retailer indicated plans to close 35 to 40 stores this year.

The chain, which operates nearly 1,400 stores, also cautioned that it might be compelled to totally halt operations due to increasing losses and falling sales.

The company stated it is offering customers up to 20% off merchandise at stores that are closing.

The nearest Big Lots stores – located in Renton and Kent – are also slated to be closed.

Here’s a full list of Washington stores slated to close:

• 1650 Birchwood Ave., Bellingham
• 14907 4th Ave. SW, Burien
• 17307 SE 272nd St., Covington
• 6727 Evergreen Way, Everett
• 1301 W Meeker St., Kent
• 1515 Marvin Rd. NE, Lacey
• 5710 196th St. SW, Lynnwood
• 2815 Capital Mall Dr. SW, Olympia
• 1940 E. 1st St., Port Angeles
• 14215 SE Petrovitsky Rd., Renton
• 1414 72nd St., Tacoma
• 2100b SE 164th Ave. — Ste. E, Vancouver