Connecticut
Norwich Big Lots store among nine closing in CT: What customers had to say about it
When the Norwich Big Lots closes, local shoppers will have to rethink their plans.
The discount retailer recently announced the closure 293 stores across the country. The Norwich one is one of nine closing in Connecticut. The company cited declining sales as the reason for the closure, according to USA Today.
There will be seven locations remaining in Connecticut, with the locations at 940 Silver Lane in East Hartford and 820 Washington St. in Middletown being the closest to the Norwich area. Out of state, the closest remaining locations are 116 E. Main St., Webster, Massachusetts, and 217 S. Main St., Warwick, Rhode Island.
Plenty of regular customers were at the Norwich Big Lots Tuesday afternoon to get their shopping done. While the store still had plenty of items in stock, from everyday goods to fall and Halloween decorations, store signs reminded customers that all sales are final, and that the store wouldn’t take checks.
The staff are kind
Killingly resident Gail Erskine heard about the closing a couple weeks ago. Patty Erskine, Gail Erskine’s sister, said they’ve been shopping at the Norwich Big Lots for a couple years,” whenever we come down to Norwich.” The store has good deals on plenty of things, including the drinks Gail Erskine likes.
“The staff in there are sweet,” Patty Erskine said, “I feel bad for them closing.”
Gail Erskine hopes another good store can fill the void left in the Norwichtown Commons, and that the employees can find jobs, “especially in this economy.”
“I’d be a little depressed at first with losing a job, but my fingers are crossed that they can find a job,” she said.
Bob’s Stores closing all locations in Connecticut, begins clearance sale. What to know
“Can they reconsider?”
Salem resident Jessi Crisman visits the Big Lots weekly because of a good variety with good prices. Crisman and her mother Sunny Crisman are both upset about the Norwich store closing, as “it’s a one-stop shop,” Crisman said.
Online shopping services, including Amazon and Temu, are hurting retail, Sunny Crisman said.
“Everything’s closing, between the banks and the grocery stores; look at Crystal Mall for goodness sake,” she said.
Crisman made the most of the store closing sale, as she loaded her car with plenty of things, including a large pink pillow.
“We just spent a lot of money; can they reconsider when they cash out tonight?” Sunny Crisman said.
Family shopping trip
Voluntown resident Erica Tefft went shopping with her four children on Tuesday. She visits the store a few times a month. While Tefft likes her gardening supplies, it’s a pastime for the family to “find what we find” at the store.
“I’m sad that its closing,” she said. “I didn’t even know until we just pulled in.”
The closest thing to Big Lots Tefft could think of in the area is the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet in Waterford.
“That store is pretty fun too,” she said.
MERIDEN, Conn. (WTNH) — A couple of Connecticut wildlife stories that may give you nightmares.
A snake was on a roof in Meriden on Wednesday. D&D Wildlife Control ran into the snake, which is a rat snake, that was looking for a crevice or hole to get into the attic.
Trapper Don Dandelski told News 8 it is quite common for snakes to slither up the side of your house and get inside, but they are harmless.
It is also gray treefrog mating season in Connecticut.
News 8’s Dennis House and Ann Nyberg each had encounters with the frogs. Ann shot the video of loud mating calls of these frogs, and a few days later a frog showed up on Dennis’ door and patio and waved and said hi.
According to the Beardsley Zoo, frogs lay up to 2,000 eggs, laid singly or in small groups, and hatch within five days.
See how Milford compares to other communities across the state:
The average value of homes near Milford include:
- Stratford: $462,162
- West Haven: $361,523
- Orange: $628,308
The data comes as Connecticut continues to face rising home prices and limited inventory.
According to Redfin, 8,307 homes were listed for sale statewide in March, down 10.2 percent year over year.
Zillow estimates the average Connecticut home value is now about $441,466, a 4.8 percent increase over the past year.
— Hayleigh Evans, Patch Staff, contributed to this report.
A state champion coach in Connecticut is heading to the place where he starred in high school basketball.
Heading back to his alma mater
Lyman Hall High School Athletics recently announced on social media that ex-Trojans standout Jim Economopoulos is returning to his alma mater to take over the boys basketball program.
Economopoulos replaces Rob Ruys, who coached the Trojans to an 8-13 record in the 2025-26 season.
“The Lyman Hall Athletic Department is proud to announce the hiring of Jimmy Economopoulos as our new head boys basketball coach,” Lyman Hall Athletics posted via X. “He’s a (Lyman Hall) graduate and current educator in the Wallingford Public Schools who brings over 10 years of successful coaching in the (Southern Connecticut Conference). Welcome home coach.”
Economopoulos told CT Insider that he is looking forward to returning home and “do something great at the school” he graduated from in 2009.
Economopoulos’ time at Daniel Hand High School
The decision comes after Economopoulos resigned as head coach of the Daniel Hand High School boys basketball program in April.
Economopoulos guided Hand to the program’s first CIAC championship title in 2022, a Division III crown, after the team won 56-39 over Kolbe-Cathedral. Economopoulos finished with a 112-105 mark in 10 seasons with the Tigers, including 80-42 in the previous five seasons.
The Tigers went 9-14 in Economopoulos’ final season at the helm.
“(Leaving) was very much on the table heading into the year (2025-26 season). And the chaos of my life this winter confirmed it for me,” Economopoulos said via CT Insider last month.
Playing days for the Trojans
Economopoulos led the Trojans to the 2008 CIAC Class L title game and the state semifinals in 2009, but Lyman Hall went on to lose both games.
“That game hurt 1,000 times worse than the state final loss,” Economopoulos told CT Insider. “In the state final loss, we weren’t expected to be there. We had almost everybody back from our junior year and we thought for sure we were winning a state championship that senior year. We thought we had won that game. It was devastating when the shot went in.”
Family connection at Lyman Hall
Economopoulos’ late father, Nick, coached girls basketball for 35 seasons between Lyman Hall, East Catholic and Coginchaug. In that span, he compiled 619 career coaching victories.
At Lyman Hall, Nick Economopoulos guided the Trojans to Class L state titles in 1985 and 1986, including three state final appearances in 1979, 1982 and 1991.
Jim’s sister, Christie Madancy, is currently Lyman Hall’s girls basketball coach.
“It definitely makes it easier. I’ll be working with a girls coach I know very well,” Jim Economopoulos said via CT Insider. “My nephew will be a freshman (on the basketball team) next year, so we will have family in the gym pretty consistently.”
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