MOSES LAKE - Outside the new Moses Lake Big Lots! store, Betty Black and Candy Lair were loading their car with bags of purchases Saturday.

Black said she enjoyed shopping at the closeout retailer.

"It's the first time I'd ever been in one," Black, of Soap Lake, said. She found the prices to be the same as Walmart's, she said.

Her friend, Kandi Lair, of Soap Lake, said she liked how the store aisles were big enough for a handicapped person and weren't overstocked.

Lair and Black were among several shoppers at the new store during the weekend. The store's soft opening was Thursday before its first weekend of operations.

Mike Nimnicht, of Big Lots!, said it was a "great" first day.

"The response was overwhelming," he said. "The first day, the people were very patient with us and understanding. The second day was very steady and smooth. Saturday was busy the minute we opened the door."

Customers are telling Big Lots! employees they're glad they're in town. He's spoken with customers who shopped at the Big Lots! in the Tri-Cities and Spokane.

"They've been waiting for us," Nimnicht said.

In Moses Lake, popular items have been comforters, sheets and other items in the domestics department and electronics. There's also been a lot of interest shown in the store's furniture department, he added.

Nimnicht is a store manager in Coeur d'Alene temporarily working in Moses Lake to help here. Employees from the company's Kennewick and Hermiston, Ore. locations are assisting in Moses Lake too.

Nimnicht is here to help train employees.

"They're getting pretty good, the people we hired have been doing an excellent job," he said. "It's always exciting to see a new store open and do well."

Store hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday.

For more information, call 509-765-2521.