NEW BUSINESS: `BIG LOTS' COMING

Big Lots is coming to Cape Girardeau.

Big Lots, a close-out merchandise retail chain operated by Consolidate Stores Corp., headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, offers big savings on top-quality, name-brand, merchandises.

The new store will open near the Silver Springs and William Street in the former Wal Mart building.

The company's corporate buyers travel the world to purchase goods at reduced prices due to packaging changes, manufacturers' overruns, discontinuations, liquidations and bankruptcies.

"We offer a number of products, such as housewares, automotive products, jewelry, hardware, paper products, clothing and other domestics," said Eric Gecsi, a company spokesman.

The Cape Girardeau operation will open June 10.

The Big Log store will employ about 40 workers.

"Each of the stores has average sales of more than $2.5 million annually," said Gecsi.

Consolidated Stores has grown from 337 to 1,798 stores over the past six years. Consolidated's closeout divisions have about 600 Big Lots and Odd Lots stores. Other Consolidated operations include more than 1,000 KB Toys, KB ToyWorks and KB Toy Outlets in all 50 states. Overall, the company employs 53,000 associates.

Consolidated Stores is traded on the New York Stock exchange under CNS.,