Honestly, if you drove past the Big Lots in Buford GA late last year, you probably thought it was a goner. Most people did. The banners were up, the "Everything Must Go" signs were screaming in neon orange, and the shelves looked like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie. But here we are in 2026, and the lights are back on at 4125 Highway 20.
It’s been a wild ride for the bargain hunters in Gwinnett County.
The store basically went through a retail near-death experience. After the original Big Lots corporation hit a wall with bankruptcy and failed buyouts in 2024, the Buford location was officially on the chopping block. It actually closed. For a minute there, we all figured it would become another spirit Halloween or a giant medical supply warehouse. Instead, a company called Variety Wholesalers stepped in at the eleventh hour, bought about 200 of the shuttered locations—including our Buford spot—and decided to bring the brand back to life.
What’s Actually Different at Big Lots in Buford GA Now?
You might be wondering if it’s just the same old store with a fresh coat of paint. Sorta, but not really. The new owners have been vocal about the fact that they aren't just trying to copy the old homework. They’ve remodeled the interior and shifted the focus away from being "just a furniture store."
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While you can still find those massive sectional sofas and Broyhill sets that made the brand famous, the inventory is leaning much harder into the "extreme value" territory again. We're talking more closeout deals on groceries and a much bigger apparel section than we saw five years ago.
The New Store Layout
Walking in today feels a bit more organized. The "junk drawer" vibe that sometimes plagued the old stores has been dialed back. You’ve still got that treasure hunt feel—where you find a weirdly expensive brand of olive oil for three bucks next to a pack of 20-foot charging cables—but the aisles are wider. The lighting doesn't feel like a 1990s basement anymore.
- Furniture remains a pillar: They still have the Serta mattresses and the Gazebo setups in the summer, but the "Furniture First" strategy that nearly broke the company has been balanced out.
- Brand Name Closeouts: This is where the Buford store is winning right now. Because the new owners operate other chains like Roses and Maxway, they have massive buying power. You’ll see brands like Tide, Nabisco, and even some high-end skincare pop up at random.
- The Seasonal Section: This is still the go-to spot for Buford residents. Whether it’s 70% off Christmas lights in January or those giant plastic skeletons in September, they’ve kept the seasonal aisle as the "main event" of the store.
Why the Buford Location Survived the Purge
Location is everything. The Big Lots in Buford GA sits in a prime spot on Highway 20, right in that sweet spot between the Mall of Georgia madness and the residential sprawl of Sugar Hill. When Variety Wholesalers looked at the map of Georgia, they saw that the Buford-Suwanee corridor has a demographic that loves a "high-low" mix. People here will buy a $60,000 SUV and then go hunt for a deal on laundry detergent.
It’s about the hunt.
Actually, the store serves as a necessary anchor for that shopping center. If Big Lots had stayed closed, the foot traffic for the surrounding small businesses would have tanked. By keeping the Buford location open, they managed to keep a loyal customer base that had been shopping there for decades.
Surviving the "Retail Apocalypse"
You’ve probably seen the headlines about 2024 and 2025 being the years of the retail graveyard. Party City, Bed Bath & Beyond, and even parts of Express all took hits. Big Lots was supposed to be on that list.
The fact that the Big Lots in Buford GA reopened in May 2025 and is still kicking in early 2026 is a bit of a miracle in the business world. It’s a testament to the fact that people still want to touch furniture before they buy it. They want to see how big a rug actually is. They want to stumble onto a deal that isn't dictated by an Amazon algorithm.
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There are limitations, though. Because it's a "closeout" model, you can't always guarantee that what you saw last Tuesday will be there this Friday. It's a "buy it when you see it" culture. If you find a set of outdoor chairs you love, you basically have to grab them then and there.
Store Information for Local Shoppers
If you’re heading over there, the hours have stayed pretty consistent with the old management. They generally open at 9:00 AM and close up shop at 9:00 PM daily.
- Address: 4125 GA-20 Ste A-2, Buford, GA 30518
- Phone: (470) 266-2157
- Best time to go: Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually when the new shipments of "soft goods" (clothes and home decor) hit the floor.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Visit
To get the most out of the Buford store, stop looking at it like a standard department store. It’s a clearance house.
First, check the back-left corner. That’s usually where the deepest markdowns on furniture floor models live. If a couch has a tiny scuff that nobody will see, you can often negotiate an extra 10% off the already low price if you talk to a manager.
Second, join the Big Rewards program. It’s not a scam; it actually sends out 20% off "entire purchase" coupons pretty frequently. In a store where you're already saving 30% compared to Target or Walmart, that extra 20% makes things almost embarrassingly cheap.
Finally, don't sleep on the grocery aisle. With inflation still being a pain in the neck, their stock of dry goods, coffee, and snacks is often the cheapest in Gwinnett County. Just check the expiration dates—most are fine, but it’s always good to be sure.
The store isn't perfect, and it’s not trying to be a luxury showroom. It’s a scrappy survivor that provides a lot of value to the Buford community. If you haven't been back since the "re-grand opening," it’s worth a walk-through just to see how the brand has evolved.