Big Lots, Inc. has announced closure of all of its stores, according to a press release issued last week.
A store manager for Big Lots in Albemarle could not comment Monday on the last day of business for the store, and details from a corporate official were not immediately available.
Big Lots, Inc. has been working on a purchase agreement with another company, but that has not happened as of yet.
“We all have worked extremely hard and have taken every step to complete a going concern sale,” Big Lots President and Chief Executive Officer Bruce Thorn said. “While we remain hopeful that we can close an alternative going concern transaction, in order to protect the value of the Big Lots estate, we have made the difficult decision to begin the GOB (going out of business) process.”

According to local historian Lewis Bramlett, Big Lots first opened at Five Points between Pee Dee Avenue and East Main Street on May 21, 1986.