Big Lots

This is a sad looking big lots from the time you enter the parking lot all the way thru the store… I took my time and made my selections… A mop, some super glue, some cleanser. I was forced to stand in line for over 10 minutes because there was only one cash register open — (I did witness two other employees in the building!) The lady in front of my had an entire shopping cart full so of course we all had to wait. I finally got called to a 2^nd register as the person in front of me was getting her stuff bagged… only to be told that I could not buy the mop I had selected… she said this is not for sale… I said it was on the shelf… she said yep they have to be pulled… the other lady heard and told me they were recalled for being packed wet and molding… I have seen these mops at TJ maxx and yep they have condensation in the package but no mold… whatever…I said can I run get a different mop… oh she was happy to suspend that damn transaction again…(this keeps happening to me at big lots!) so I ran to get my mop but see her just knee deep with other people at this point… I am tired and decided I don’t need this walked out… I need to learn my lesson… and quit trying to shop here…

Big Lots! Woot!
I’ve been fascinated by lot stores ever since walking into my first Ocean State Job Lot in Connecticut. Big Lots has twice the capacity and offers twice the amount of things that Ocean State Job Lot does, so naturally I found myself excited about store’s selection — a reasonable substitute for the Target at the other end of the strip mall.
My favorite part about Big Lots? The selection of organic and imported food goods at rock bottom prices. If anything, Big Lots should be commended for that.

A few things run through my head as I walk into Big Lots.
First, who lives in those apartments right behind Big Lots and do they shop at Big Lots often because it’s so close and convenient? Perhaps they live off of discontinued candy from some previous holiday and DVDs that cost $ 1.
I like the fact employees smoke directly outside here and have loud conversations about the Machiavellian life of Big Lots employees. In particular, some boss they truly hate or perhaps the arrival of a big lot that needs to be put somewhere so someone can buy said big lot.
My next Big Lots thought is «Why is that guy going through all those $ 1 DVDs?». Is he looking for some sort of secret holy Big Lots DVD grail? Perhaps somehow, just somehow a movie made in the last 4 years made it into the pile. If he’s truly lucky perhaps even Inception or Batman Begins.
I walk around Big Lots and more thoughts go in and out of my head. How they have everything, furniture, food, babies crawling around on the floor (unsure if they were part of some Big Lot that had come in recently).
Finally I have a wish… I wish I could be at the marketing headquarters of Big Lots. To be there when they make big decisions on where to put stuff, what kind of ad copy to have for their signs and the color scheme as well. I’m pretty sure that would be amazing.
As I leave Big Lots, usually with nothing in hand, I am wistful. Tomorrow is another day. I will probably be back at Big Lots in the future, and still not buy anything, but will continue to take it all in.

I didn’t even know there were any of these left. There is something to be said for getting lost.
Stopped in to look around. Was greeted by a friendly staffer and a bunch off end caps with interesting off brand items and some brand name items too.
After wandering around, I spied a deviled egg carrier for only 2 bucks. It came with a cover and was cheap, cheap, cheap. I had to snatch it up for all those deviled eggs I make– not really, but who doesn’t love things you really don’t need.
Found a 2012 calendar for cheap and for the cubicle. Island theme so I can actually day dream that I’m on one.
Lots of off brand items, but a few cool items too. There was a memory foam bath mat that was so soft and supposedly soaked up water. I don’t know why I would need one, but it was super soft.
Lots of inexpensive Christmas decorations, cards, wrapping paper, trees etc.
It’s kind of a cool store with a dollar store meets One of the marts.
Bathrooms were fairly decent and not that tragic which is what I expect with a bathroom shoved way in the back of a store.

Big lots gets five stars because big lots is on it’s own grading scale. Who doesn’t want a santa face thats made of tinsel, paula deen brand mac and cheese with bacon mix, foreign candy, dog sweaters that boast having a great mom, 5 dollar men’s sweatpants, questionable hair accessories, dirt cheap cleaning supplies, and misc other discontinued items that you’ll never see again? Frankly, its where things go to die and you can adopt them before they fade off into nothing. Also, it’s full of stuff you do not need and never knew you wanted. Perfect for birthday gift shopping for that quirky friend who gave you a squirrel candle for your last birthday.
When I stumbled upon the local big lots after I moved into my current apartment I almost had a heart attack. Having previously lost my beloved big lots location in Coon Rapids the moment was charged and felt very blessed. Whenever the roomie and I have felt a need to decorate, this is where we go. We bought our very first charlie brown christmas tree here for $ 19.99 and never leave without a $ 2 dog toy for the infamous puggle that lives with us. This place is to target what aldi is to cub foods. LOVE!