Most of us have enjoyed rambling around a Big Lots store at some time or anotherbut maybe we should have gone more often. Big Lots announces closures of many of its locations throughout the U.S. We were just shopping in one last nightthe cashiers were so nice, and it was sad to think they are likely out of a job now. These stores were always like a treasure trove of unexpected items, everything from a plug-in fireplace and mantel to an interesting snack aisle to patio furnishings. The store stocks items from production overruns, discontinued products and more, which explains the interesting hodgepodge of inventory. Right now, the chains website doesnt mention anything about store closures, but members have gotten emails stating their local store is closing. Driving past these locations, a big banner announces the closure as well.

　　Why is Big Lots closing locations? The company said that inflation and competition difficulties have made it hard to keep stores open, according to The Hill. Consumers just arent spending as much these days. Another chain that closed restaurants in May, Red Lobster, said that debt and a fiasco with an all-you-can-eat shrimp promotion caused the closure of almost 100 locations.

　　How many stores will be closing? According to The Hill, the company, in an SEC filing, has said that between 35 and 40 locations could be closing, but the number looks far bigger. For instance, 60 locations in California are tagged for closures, and 89 others in the U.S. have closure notices on their individual websites.

　　Which stores have been confirmed for closing? In California, these stores will close, according to Fox40.com:

　　Anaheim: 1670 W Katella Avenue Anaheim: 6336 E Santa Ana Canyon Road Atascadero: 2240 El Camino Real Atwater: 1085 Bellevue Road Bakersfield: 1211 Olive Drive Bakersfield: 2621 Fashion Place Beaumont: 1782 E 2nd Street Camarillo: 353 Carmen Drive Santa Clarita/Canyon County: 19331 Soledad Canyon Road Chico: 1927 E 20th Street Concord: 2060 Monument Boulevard Corona: 740 N Main Street Culver City: 5587 Sepulveda Boulevard Delano: 912 County Line Road El Cajon: 1085 E Main Street Fairfield: 1500 Oliver Road Folsom: 9500 Greenback Lane Fresno: 7370 N Blackstone Avenue Gilroy: 360 E 10th Street Hercules: 1551 Sycamore Indio: 42225 Jackson Street La Mesa: 6145 Lake Murray Boulevard Livermore: 4484 Las Positas Road Lompoc: 1009 N H Street Long Beach: 2238 N Bellflower Boulevard Los Banos: 951 W Pacheco Boulevard Manteca: 1321 West Yosemite Avenue Merced: 665 Fairfield Drive Milpitas: 111 Ranch Drive Modesto: 3900 Sisk Road Oceanside: 1702 Oceanside Boulevard Ontario: 4430 Ontario Mills Parkway Placerville: 47 Fair Lane Rancho Santa Margarita: 30501 Avenida De Las Flores Redlands: 810 Tri City Center Riverside: 2620 Canyon Springs Parkway Rohnert Park: 565 Rohner Park Expressway Sacramento: 6630 Valley Hi Drive Sacramento: 8700 La Riviera Drive Salinas: 370 Northridge Mall San Bernardino: 499 W Orange Show Road Santa Clara: 3735 El Camino Real Santa Maria: 1417 S Broadway Santa Paula: 568 W Main Street Santa Rosa: 2055 Mendocino Avenue Simi Valley: 1189 Simi Town Center Way Stockton: 2720 Country Club Boulevard Temecula: 27411 Ynez Road Tracy: 2681 N Tracy Boulevard Turlock: 1840 Countryside Drive Ukiah: 225 Orchard Place Vacaville: 818 Alamo Drive Visalia: 2525 S Monney Boulevard Woodland: 52 W Court Street Closures in other states include, according to The Hill:

　　Alabama: Troy Arizona: Flagstaff, Glendale, Laveen, Mesa, East Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix (Ray Road, 75th Avenue, Bell Road, West Bethany Road, East Bell Road), Scottsdale, Tucson (North Oracle Road) Colorado: Aurora (South Parker Road), Grand Junction, Littleton, Longmont Connecticut: Manchester, Milford, Waterford Florida: Boca Raton, Bonita Springs, Clewiston, Coconut Creek, Destin, Hallandale, Hollywood, Miami Lakes, Orange Park, Orlando (Waterbridge Downs), Pompano Beach Georgia: Savannah, Thomson Illinois: Crest Hill, Lockport, Niles Indiana: North Indianapolis, Kokomo Kansas: Kansas City Louisiana: Lafayette, Natchitoches Maryland: Laurel, Lexington Park, Reisterstown Massachusetts: Dennis Port Michigan: Kentwood, Okemos, Portage, Ypsilanti Minnesota: Albert Lea Missouri: Kansas City (Washington Street), Saint Joseph, Saint Louis (Christy Boulevard) Montana: Helena New York: Carle Place, Centereach, Queensbury North Carolina: Durham (AvondaleDrive) Oregon: Albany, Salem Pennsylvania: Clifton Heights, Exton South Carolina: Aiken, Chester, Newberry South Dakota: Rapid City Utah: Layton, Logan Vermont: Barre Virginia: Fredericksburg (Warrenton Road), Manassas Washington: Bellingham, Burien, Covington, Everett, Kent, Lacey, Lynnwood, Olympia, Port Angeles, Renton, Tacoma (72nd Street), Vancouver (SE 164th Avenue) Wisconsin: Fond du Lac, Menomonee Falls, Mount Pleasant, Sheboygan, West Bend Good news for folks in Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, or Wyomingnone of your stores are going to be closing, but you might want to do some shopping there to ensure that stays the case.