Big Lots closing store in Jacksonville Beach

Bankrupt discount retailer Big Lots Inc. is closing its store in Jacksonville Beach as it shuts down hundreds of locations across the U.S.

The store is at 14333 Beach Blvd., No. 18, in the Pablo Station shopping center. According to the Big Lots website, the store is open daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for its closing sale.

No final closing date is given.

That will leave the chain with four stores in Northeast Florida comprising three in Jacksonville and one in St. Augustine. It already closed its store in Orange Park in the South Blanding Village shopping center in August.

Big Lots announced Sept. 9 it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and entered into an agreement to sell all its assets and ongoing business operations to Nexus Capital Management LP.

Columbus, Ohio-based Big Lots said its stores and website will remain open during the bankruptcy.

According to its website, there are now 1,244 Big Lots locations open but some of those are in the closing process.

USA Today reported Oct. 4 that the retailer plans to close more than 340 stores, a number that has grown from about 300 in August.

Big Lots sells furniture, decor, pantry items, kitchenware, pet supplies and more.

"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 CEO Bruce Thorn said in a news release announcing the bankruptcy in September.

The sale to Nexus is expected to close in the fourth quarter.