The first wave of nine reopened Big Lots stores to commence Thursday. The next wave is scheduled to launch May 1 with 55 ...

Variety Wholesalers is looking to open a handful of Big Lots locations on Thursday in the first of “four waves of openings" it has planned for the discount retailer’s stores it bought.

Variety Wholesalers will commence the first wave of openings Thursday, where customers will find remodeled stores and new merchandise categories.

Variety Wholesalers, one of the purchasers of assets from the bankrupt Big Lots discount chain, will reopen a total of 219 stores under the Big Lots banner.