Peru Big Lots to close, possibly by February

The Big Lots in Peru will be closing possibly by the end of February.

Peru Mayor Ken Kolowski said he monitored the situation as closely as he could, and the city is disappointed, but there’s limitations on what the city can and cannot do.

“I believe that corner is a valuable corner and an asset to Peru and to another retailer,” he said. “I don’t see it being empty for very long.”

The assistant manager for the location confirmed with Shaw Media that the location would be closing, as final closing sales have begun and the store has started selling off fixtures.

Big Lots filed for bankruptcy in September.

The company that operated Big Lots announced in December that all of its stores would be going out of business after an asset purchase agreement with Nexus Capital Management fell through.

About a week later, the company announced a deal with Gordon Brothers to keep hundreds of its stores open, and the future of the Peru store remained hopeful.

The Peru store has begun displaying closeout sales signs, and when a customer calls the location, a message plays telling customers that all Big Lots locations will be closing soon and the entire store is on sale.

“When we have an unfortunate situation like this, all we can do is work hard to make it a better situation with a new opportunity and new retail and new development,” Kolowski said.