Big Lots, Verizon Added to Pavilion Shopping Center

The additions of a Big Lots and a Verizon Wireless store will mark the first time since its expansion that every space in the will be occupied.

Representatives from KA Architects, representing the shopping center at Thursday night’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, said that the 30,000-square-foot Big Lots is scheduled to hold its grand opening August 7.

The Verizon store, a franchise branch run by an Independence, OH, company, opened June 18. The store has seven employees.

KA Architects attended the meeting to request approval of its plans to enlarge the islands in the center’s parking lot and add new trees, flowers and shrubs. The work will take away a few parking spots, but representatives said that the center has never used all the parking spots. The number of spots will still exceed the city code's minimum requirement.

The shopping center was built in 1974 and houses a , , and other stores.

Headquartered in Columbus and founded in 1967, Big Lots is a closeout retailer boasting nearly $5 million in annual revenues and 1,400 stores in 48 states.

A message left with Big Lots was not immediately returned Friday morning.