Big Lots
Coverage of Big Lots in the Nexus archive.
- Michiganders are going hungry in the wake of federal food assistance cuts
The passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) has caused federal cuts to food assistance and healthcare, disproportionately harming Michiganders. The bill altered SNAP rules by raising the age threshold for exemptions from 55 to 65, which has resulted in many children and older adults losing vital benefits. Local food pantries report increasing need as hunger rises among Michigan families.
- Gonzales lands another major retail name
Burlington is set to open a new store in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, by renovating the former Big Lots space in Gonzales Plaza Shopping Center. Big Lots closed its Gonzales location after a national sale of leases and subsequent Chapter 11 bankruptcy led to 500 store closures, including in Louisiana. Burlington currently operates 12 stores in Louisiana and has expanded from its origins as Burlington Coat Factory to a nationwide off-price retailer with over 1,000 locations.
- ICE plans to offload Berks County and Schuylkill County warehouses, report says
The Department of Homeland Security plans to sell two Pennsylvania warehouses purchased for immigration detention, including a 1.3-million-square-foot facility in Schuylkill County and a 520,000-square-foot site in Berks County. Local communities opposed the projects due to infrastructure challenges, and the properties no longer generate tax revenue after federal acquisition.
- Schuylkill County wrestles with spectre of immigration detention center plan
Schuylkill County faces opposition to a planned 7,500-person ICE detention center in Tremont Township, a former Big Lots warehouse, with residents criticizing leaders for inadequate transparency and infrastructure concerns. The project, part of the Trump administration's deportation initiative, faces delays due to state and federal challenges, including audits and infrastructure limitations in the area.