Big Lots Opens Polaris Store

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Amidst all the bad news in the auto industry, there was a bit of hope for retail locally Friday.

A discount retailer opened a new Columbus store, bringing new jobs.

NBC 4’s Lauren Diedrich reported with the FAST FACTS.

City leaders officially opened the brand-new Big Lots on Polaris Parkway Friday morning.

Eager customers poured into the store.

“My friend told me they had a Dyson cleaner for $249,” Iman Azur said.

“We been wanting a swimming pool,” another customer said.

Seeing doors open at a new retail store is rare in a tough economy.

“It’s nice to support a local store that’s opening with today’s economy as it is,” shopper Liana Lee said.

About 30 jobs were created to staff the store.

Big Lots said it’s actually expanding.

The company will open one more store in Central Ohio by the end of the year.

As for other jobs coming to Columbus, JP Morgan Chase is looking to expand by 1,000 positions in Columbus and is in the midst of ironing out a deal with city leaders.

Clear Saleing Inc., a technology firm, also recently announced it would bring 60 jobs to Central Ohio.

Jobs are crucial to rebuilding our economy—an economy where these shoppers say getting deals are more important than ever.

Go to http://www.econdev.columbus.gov/ for more information on local jobs and the economy.

For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
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