Big Lots, Big K, Big N -- we need something BIG!

A look at the history of the location

Opened only in Fall 2020, Big Lots took over a former Big Kmart location in Greenwich — really, the only department store in the Battenkill Valley — but the chain announced its nationwide closure this week, which, of course, includes this liquidation here.

On our Facebook Page, we’re debating what should replace Big Lots. Join in — or comment here.

Here’s a file photo from 2020:

And what it looks like inside:

We figured this Christmas Eve might be a nice time to visit Greenwich Historian Sandy McReynolds’ 2020 piece for this paper on the history of the property:

Greenwich likes BIG things...

By Sandy McReynolds
Special to Journal & Press

It all began in 1974 when Neisner Brothers, Inc. of Rochester originally constructed the cornerstone of the plaza, the big N department store. Employing thirty to forty people from the area, including the popular restaurant, the store carried clothing, pet fish, toys, records, clothing, and household goods. Though the company had made the decision to close several of their stores for financial reasons in late 1977, the Greenwich site was not on the list. “The success of the big N Discount store was limited. By 1977, Neisner's filed for bankruptcy protection. The following year, Ames Discount Stores acquired the Big N chain as a result of the bankruptcy liquidation, and Neisner's closed its doors.”

Courtesy Rough & Ready FD.

However, the devastating March 5, 1978 fire changed the plans for Greenwich. The black smoke was visible for forty miles, and by 11am the fire was brought under control. All that remained standing was the front wall. The interior walls were completely gone and the steel supports were melted and twisted. The cause of the fire was quickly determined to have emanated from a compressor at the rear of the store. Light smoke damage was all that was suffered by the adjoining stores. (They are actually two separate buildings, adjoined only on the front, “but are increasingly further apart as they go back.” Radio Shack was still under reconstruction after their fire a couple months previous (Dec. 1977); vacant store (Bain’s Bakery had decided not to reopen after the ’77 fire); House of Pizza; Donohue’s Pharmacy; M&M Liquor Store; Grand Union; and Glens Falls National Bank & Trust. The store was not rebuilt.

Lucky for us, the Big N Plaza wasn’t without a department store for long. Kmart had purchased the lot and the new store opened in November 1979 much to the delight of the local folk. The name Big N was still emblazoned on the plaza sign for many years before it changed to Greenwich Plaza, and it is not uncommon to hear some older people (myself included) refer to it as such.

When Kmart left

For twenty-one years Kmart remained, but in June 2000 it was announced that our aging store was going to get a face-lift and rebranded as Big K, or Big Kmart. Once again—we had a Big store in the plaza. We continued on for nearly two more decades—until March 2019, when Big K was put on the company’s chopping block and finally closed its doors. Over those years, we’d taken for granted of having a place to “run to in an emergency” when we didn’t want – or have the time to travel to its competitors in Saratoga. The loss of Big K and the convenience it offered was felt throughout the community.

Like all things—especially with the internet—the rumors began to fly about what was going to happen with the empty store. I guess it shouldn’t have been a shock really when it was announced Big Lots was moving in—I mean, it was meant to be, right?

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And Now for the Comics — ‘Broom Hilda’ by Russell Myers

And that’s it for today. Happy Christmas Eve!