Mold Remediation in Taylor, MI

Aldi is the latest company to buy Big Lots store locations out of bankruptcy, including a Michigan site.

Big Lots filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2024, USA TODAY reported. As part of a deal with Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, several companies have purchased and reopened Michigan Big Lots stores this spring, including Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings Inc. and Variety Wholesalers Inc., saving hundreds of stores from permanent closure.

Big Lots sold leases to more than 460 stores to Boston-based asset liquidation firm Gordon Brothers Retail Partners in late 2024, after which the leases were put up for sale, USA TODAY reported. Prior to the deal, the chain had planned to close all of its stores after a potential sale fell through.

"Having established a strong working partnership with Big Lots, we executed seamlessly with all parties to provide the company and its stakeholders a holistic, solutions-oriented sale and avoid a full liquidation," said Kyle C. Shonak, Chief Transaction Officer, North America at Gordon Brothers, in a news release. "Throughout the restructuring, our firm not only provided financing, but the guidance, expertise and services needed to develop and lead a multi-faceted solution to avoid layoffs and maximize value."

Here's what to know.

What is Big Lots?

Big Lots is a discount retailer selling furniture, home décor, mattresses and more.

The chain was the fourth-largest home goods retailer in the U.S. when it filed for bankruptcy, with $4.7 billion in 2023 revenue, 1,392 stores at the beginning of 2024, and more than 27,000 employees, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Which company recently bought a Michigan Big Lots store?

Aldi recently bought a Big Lots store lease at 23351 Eureka Road in Taylor, according to bankruptcy documents dated May 9, USA TODAY reported.

"At this time, we do not have any information to share on an ALDI development coming to Taylor, MI. As soon as we have information regarding further ALDI expansion in this area, we will reach out," said Ryan Fritsch, Webberville Division vice president, in a statement.

What is Aldi?

Aldi is a discount grocery chain with 2,527 stores in the U.S., according to the company's website.

Where else did Aldi buy Big Lots leases?

Aldi also bought the following Big Lots leases, USA TODAY reported:

Why did Big Lots go bankrupt?

Big Lots filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2024, faced with financial challenges amid high inflation and interest rates, USA TODAY reported. The company then closed over 600 stores, though some are now reopening under new ownership.

"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,” said president and chief executive Bruce Thorn in a fall 2024 news release. “To accomplish this, we intend to use the tools afforded by this process to continue optimizing our store fleet in an orderly manner."

Will the Taylor Big Lots store reopen?

Aldi has not announced plans for the Taylor location. It's not clear it will return as a Big Lots.

However, another round of Big Lots openings is set to take place through early June, USA TODAY reported. Two Michigan site — Port Huron and Southgate — were slated to open May 15.

The chain also plans a nationwide "grand opening" event for the fall.

What other companies bought Michigan Big Lots stores?

Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings acquired 63 store leases from Big Lots since the bankruptcy began, including a 750 Perry Ave. Big Rapids location. The company announced 40 of the acquisitions Feb. 27.

"We are excited to announce the acquisition of an additional 40 former Big Lot store locations," said Eric van der Valk, president and CEO of Ollie’s, in the news release. "Everything about these stores lines up well with our business and growth strategy. These locations are the right size, come with favorable lease terms, are located in existing and adjacent trade areas, and have long serviced value conscious consumers.”

As part of the deal with Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, Variety Wholesalers acquired 219 Big Lots stores, as well as two distribution centers.

"We’re thrilled to bring the Big Lots! brand back to life by offering more deals than ever, lots of famous brands and a new apparel department for the entire family," Variety Wholesalers president and CEO Lisa Seigies said in an April 4 news release.

Variety Wholesalers said customers can expect "remodeled stores, a large selection of closeout deals and new merchandise categories, including apparel for the family and electronics."

"We know the stores won’t be perfect to start, but each week, we’ll add more new products as we build towards the grand opening celebration in the fall," Seigies continued.

What is Ollie's Bargain Outlet?

Ollie's Bargain Outlet is a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based bargain outlet store that calls itself "America’s largest retailer of closeout merchandise and excess inventory" offering "extreme value on brand name products," the Lansing State Journal reported.

The company sells products in various departments, including housewares, food, books, bed and bath, toys, health and beauty and more.

What is Variety Wholesalers?

Variety Wholesalers, Inc. is a Henderson, North Carolina-based discount retailer known for its treasure hunt shopping experience, closeouts, and unbeatable bargains. The private company operates discount chains like Roses Discount stores, Roses Express, Maxway, Bill's Dollar Stores, Super 10 and Bargain Town.

What Michigan Big Lots did Variety Wholesalers buy?

Variety Wholesalers purchased several Big Lots leases in Michigan, including the following:

When are the Variety Wholesalers Big Lots stores reopening?

The Burton, Flint and Shelby Township Big Lots stores were set to reopen May 1, among 60 stores reopening in 12 states.

The Port Huron and Southgate stores were among more than 70 locations set to reopen in 13 states May 15.

Where else are Big Lots stores reopening?

The May 1 openings also included Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, USA TODAY said.

USA TODAY reported the May 15 openings were in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

The Detroit Free Press, Lansing State Journal and USA TODAY contributed.

It’s been a bumpy road between motorists, Taylor officials, and Area Towing for years, and now ties have been cut with the company and the city has moved on.

Discussions about the city’s towing contract has been a point of contention over the years, with officials hearing an earful from residents over the cost for a tow and impound rates.

The April 1 City Council meeting brought the matter to a climax with Taylor Mayor Tim Woolley stepping in and making a decision on what to do about the contract and the city’s direction on the matter.

Describing the four-hour long meeting as, having a Jerry Springer-like atmosphere at times, Woolley said he took over and did what was necessary — selecting J&T Crova Enterprises as the city’s new tow service.

“Some of the residents at the meeting were very vocal,” Woolley said. “There were multiple people who bid, but some were disqualified because they didn’t have everything we needed.”

Woolley said the process initially went forward as it should have.

The resolution to approve J&T Crova went down in a 3-3 vote (the seven-member council has been short a member since a December, 2023 resignation that has not been filled).

Council Chairman Doug Geiss, Charley Johnson and Angie Winton voted in favor of giving J&T Crova the contract while Mayor Pro Tem Jill Brandana, and council members Lindsey Rose and Tina Daniels opposed it.

The one thing the council was in favor of was severing ties with Area Towing and denying them as the contractor.

That vote was unanimous 6-0.

According to Woolley, J&T Crova had “excellent references” from other communities and when the city went out for bids they were the low bid.

“I made an executive decision based on safety,” Woolley said. “I considered this a safety issue.”

Woolley said Area Towing was on a month-to-month contract with the city and had been with Taylor for about 20 years. Area Towing did not respond to a request for comment.

As a former eight-year-member of the city council, Woolley said he has heard more stories about towing bills that were so high the car owners couldn’t afford to get their vehicle out of their storage.

The mayor also said there were complaints about being charged for hazmat cleanups from a basic car crash involving a tow that, at times, drove costs as high as $8,000.

“I am just floored with this process,” Woolley said. “Never in a million years did I expect things would result into something like this. I’m shocked by this entire process. From now on we will be diligent on how things are done and following the contract. We are not going to mess around.”

This new contract is “more defined and there are no loopholes,” the mayor said.

The Southland Center, the largest shopping mall in Downriver Detroit, has been sold to Greenwood Global, a private investing group based in Glencoe, Illinois.

According to Crain's Detroit Business, the sale was finalized on Dec. 30. The City of Taylor announced the sale on Facebook Saturday.

Alex Berman, who leads Greenwood Global, told Crain's Detroit on Sunday his plan with the mall is to drive more foot traffic and keep it as a shopping mall, instead of redeveloping the lot into rental properties or mixed-use spaces.

"We like it because we believe it's a strong mall in a strong market," Berman told Crain's. "We believe it's a strong property with strong anchors in Macy's, JCPenney, Best Buy and Cinemark. We also believe people in the area like the mall. We would like to keep it operational and add some leasing. That's our strategy."

Amy Jurecki, senior general manager for Southland, wrote in the announcement that the sale “is going to be an exciting new chapter for Southland.”

The 905,000-square-foot Southland Center was one of the original JL Hudson's shopping malls. Like many malls, the facility has struggled financially over the last decade.

In 2022, the former owning agency, Brookfield Properties, defaulted on a $78 million loan, according to Crain's. The City of Taylor said Jurecki was "always bullish" to preserve the shopping mall, despite financial trouble.

The city wrote that the Southland Center brought in more than $8 million in revenue during the first half of 2024.

Contact Liam Rappleye: LRappleye@freepress.com.