NEW BUSINESS: BIG LOTS OPENS

Big Lots has opened in Cape Girardeau.

Big Lots, a closeout merchandise retail chain operated by Consolidated Stores Corp., headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, sells a number of name-brand, merchandise.

The new store is at 214 S. Silver Springs Road in a section of the former Wal-Mart building.

The company offers 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 is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

The Big Lots store employs about 40 workers.

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.