MOSES LAKE - The nation's largest broadline closeout retailer Big Lots! holds its soft opening Thursday.

Its new Moses Lake location is at 813 N Stratford Rd.

The store opens sometime in the morning Thursday, but an exact time was not set as of Tuesday, according to Mike Nimnicht, of Big Lots!

For more information, call 509-765-2521.

Big Lots! advertisement inserts are inside the Columbia Basin Herald this week.

The 30,000-square-foot building now housing Big Lots! underwent extensive renovations.

The building was "pretty much gutted out," resulting in new walls, floor, heating, lighting and air conditioning and remodeled bathrooms, Nimincht said.

"It's a totally different-looking box on the inside versus what was here to begin with," Nimincht commented.

The store is now filled with merchandise, including seasonal goods, food, household chemicals, furniture, home decor and electronics.

Employees were working inside the store Tuesday, some placing price tags on shelves and others inserting signs into plastic holders.

About 50 people were hired and more could be added, depending on the business need, he said.

"Obviously, it's an opportunity for us here," Nimincht said. "It's a great community. Obviously we go into growing areas. It's a great place to be."

On Nov. 18, the store holds its ribbon cutting/grand opening ceremony at 9 a.m. A $2,500 check will be presented to Knolls Vista Elementary School Principal Nikki Mackey.

When opening a new location, Big Lots! makes a donation to the nearest school, according to Toni Fink, a Big Lots! spokesperson.

The store invited local officials to the ceremony, she said.

Sixteen Big Lots! stores are celebrating grand openings in the U.S., to round off 90 stores for the year. Seven stores, including Moses Lake, mark openings Friday.

"At Big Lots!, our easy-to-shop stores and unbelievable deals have been big hits with customers for more than 40 years and we are thrilled to bring that same successful concept to a new group of shoppers," stated Rob Claxton, senior vice president of marketing for Big Lots! "We encourage Moses Lake residents to think Big Lots! when it comes to deciding where to spend their hard-earned money. We know they will love this new store and the values we offer on the products they want and need."

For more information, visit www.biglots.com.