New Big Lots opens Oct. 9

Discount retailer Big Lots will open its new Tallahassee store Oct. 9 at the Lafayette Place shopping center on Mahan Drive.

The store, which occupies a former Publix supermarket space, will be one of the center's anchor tenants. Big Lots spokeswoman Toni Fink said the store's sales floor totals 28,440 square feet.

"It's a new store, so it's going to get one of the newer store layouts," Fink said. A formal grand opening is scheduled for Oct. 17.

The location will have a wider assortment of products, including more food items. The company announced in August that it was incorporating additional selections and had developed a new design for its food departments.

Big Lots' president and CEO, David Campisi, is credited with directing the company's new merchandising focus and upgrading of its product lines, Fink said. "With his leadership at Big Lots, a lot of the stores are starting to see the change for the better," she added.

The larger Mahan Drive location will have a furniture department and seasonal products displays near the front of the store, with the grocery section toward the middle. "That will be the first three things people will see when they come in the door," Fink said.

The renovations and interior work being completed now include installation of food freezer cabinets and coolers for such items as cheeses, yogurt and other dairy products.

Recruiting continues for the remaining positions at the store. Those interested in applying can visit www.biglots.com/corporate/careers/application for information.

Fink said the staff now totals 45, with more than 20 recruited who worked at the retailer's previous location at 2990 Apalachee Pkwy.

Based in Columbis, Ohio, Big Lots is the nation's leading broadline closeout retailer. It has 1,491 stores in 48 states.

Regarding another announcement Monday, the former Kentucky Fried Chicken at 1942 N. Monroe St. near Northwood Centre will become a Hardee's restaurant, according to real estate firm NAI TALCOR, which handled the sale of the property.

Gray Cartee, a commercial adviser for TALCOR, said the restaurant space totals 3,000 square feet and that the Hardee's should open by next March after building renovations are completed.

"Within nine to 12 months they will have two to three new stores here and, of course, this is going to be one of them," Cartee said. "They are ramping up their presence here."

Hardee's is part of CKE Restaurant Holdings Inc. There are more than 2,033 locations in the U.S. and in 11 foreign countries. Hardee's existing local restaurants are in Tallahassee at 5818 N. Monroe St., one in Quincy at 100 W. Jefferson St., and in Crawfordfille at 2994 Crawfordville Hwy.