More Big Lots Stores In Hudson Valley To Close, Some Spared

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Discount retail chain Big Lots will be closing two more Hudson Valley stores, according to the company's website.

The retail giant announced it will be closing its Kingston (1375 Ulster Ave.) and Middletown (400 Route 211 E.) locations. While the final closing date has yet to be announced, the stores are offering 20 percent off sales at both locations.

While the Wappingers Falls (1574 Route 9) location is not listed as closing on the website, it was listed in a court filing by the company last week.

The Poughkeepsie store (43 Burnett Blvd.) had been previously set to close. The website says the store is in its final days and is offering 60 to 70 percent off store-wide.

Meanwhile, the Big Lots locations in Newburgh (39 North Plank Rd.) and Saugerties (330 Route 212) will remain open.

After recently voicing concerns about the company's long-term viability, Big Lots filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sept. 9. This decision came a month after 300 locations nationwide had been announced to close.

Big Lots had 1,389 stores before the closures, but Columbus Business First reported that the closeout retailer has been shutting down around 50 locations weekly nationwide, bringing the total closures to 496.

Founded in 1967, the company first operated as Consolidated International with closeout and discount stores under a variety of names. In 2001, the various store names and companies were converted to the single national Big Lots brand.

Big Lots pointed to "high inflation and interest rates that are beyond its control." The chain added that "core customers curbed their discretionary spending on the home and seasonal product categories that represent a significant portion of the company's revenue."

"Though the majority of our store locations are profitable, we intend to move forward with a more focused footprint to ensure that we operate efficiently and are best positioned to serve our customers," Big Lots President/CEO Bruce Thorn said in a Sept. 9 press release. "To accomplish this, we intend to use the tools afforded by this process to continue optimizing our store fleet in an orderly manner."

Big Lots said its stores and online shopping site will continue to operate as usual. The company plans to still honor gift cards and store credit cards.