Laid off Big Lots employees are invited to visit job center for help

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY – The High Desert Job Center of America invites Big Lots distribution employees, who will be laid off in October, to visit their center for help.

“Attention Big Lots distribution employees: If you have been affected by recent layoffs, we invite you to visit the High Desert America’s Job Center. The America’s Job Center of California (AJCC) offers essential services to assist you in your job search, including resume support, job placement assistance, and more,” said a posting on Facebook.

Permanent closure of Apple Valley distribution center

The post is in response to Big Lots’ notification to the Employment Development Department (EDD) that they were permanently closing its Apple Valley distribution center, effective October 31, and laying off all 349 employees.

The layoffs come amid closure of at least 74 store locations in California and 315 stores nationwide.

In 2019 the Apple Valley distribution center replaced the Big Lots facility in Rancho Cucamonga as one of the five in the US. Big Lots invested $120 million dollars into the Apple Valley facility which included streets and infrastructure improvements.

The discount retailer announced in early September that they are filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy in an effort to reorganize its debts and continue operating. They have plans to sell its assets to Nexus Capital Management LP.

High inflation and interest rates

Big Lots says like many other retail businesses, they have been adversely affected by recent broad economic factors such as high inflation and interest rates.

“The prevailing economic trends have been particularly challenging to Big Lots, as its core customers curbed their discretionary spending on the home and seasonal product categories that represent a significant portion of the Company’s revenue,” reads a statement in the news release.

Going forward, the discount retailer will continue to assess its operational footprint, which will include closing additional store locations.

Big Lots employee resources

AJCC says they are available to Big Lots employees to help navigate them through this transition.

The center is located at 17310 Bear Valley Road, Suite 109 in Victorville. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information visit workforce.sbcounty.gov or call 800-451-JOBS.