Gottschalks building is being filled

MOSES LAKE - The closeout retailer Big Lots! is moving into the former Gottschalks building on Stratford Road in Moses Lake.

The Columbus, Ohio-based company submitted a building permit to the City of Moses Lake this week to complete a tenant improvement to the 40,000 square-foot building, said Gil Alvarado, the city's community development director, on Wednesday.

The company's site plan shows some small shops, but the construction plans do not. 

As a result, city staff will make a comment on their construction plans, Alvarado said.

"We welcome the in-fill," Alvarado said. "We've had a vacant building for awhile. That building isn't the easiest to fill because of the challenges of remodeling these days."

He said they'll modify the building to fit their typical store layout.

Clothing retailer Gottschalks closed in Moses Lake in 2009 after the parent company filed for bankruptcy protection.

Alvarado wasn't aware of a start date or opening date for the Big Lots! store. New jobs figures were also unavailable.

A Big Lots company representative was unavailable for comment.

The company describes itself on its website "as the nation's largest broadline closeout retailer."

"We sell a broad range of high-quality, brand-name products, including consumables, seasonal items, furniture, housewares, toys, electronics, home decor, tools and gifts," according to the website.

In July, the company expanded outside the U.S. by purchasing Liquidation World Inc. in Canada, according to a Big Lots! statement.

With the purchase, Big Lots! has 89 locations in Canada.

There are 1,398 stores in 48 U.S. states and 21 stores in Washington state.

For more information, visit www.biglots.com.