Variety Wholesalers
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1930 |
| Founder | Pope family |
| Headquarters | Henderson, North Carolina , United States |
Area served | Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States |
Key people | Art Pope (CEO) |
| Products | Retail stores (Roses, Maxway, Big Lots) |
Number of employees | 7000 |
| Parent | Pope family (owner) |
Variety Wholesalers, Inc. is a privately owned enterprise headquartered in Henderson, North Carolina, managing over 380 retail outlets throughout the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. These stores operate under the brand names Roses, Maxway, and Big Lots. The company’s workforce comprises roughly 7,000 employees.
History
Established in 1930 by the Pope family, the company experienced substantial growth after John William Pope assumed leadership in 1949. Beginning in the 1970s, Variety Wholesalers expanded its footprint by acquiring various retail chains such as Roses and Maxway, positioning itself among the nation’s leading discount retail operators.
In December 2024, Variety Wholesalers reached an agreement to purchase a minimum of 200 stores along with two distribution centers from the bankrupt Ohio-based discount retailer Big Lots, maintaining business continuity under the Big Lots name.
The Pope family continues to privately own the company, with Art Pope holding the position of Chief Executive Officer.
Organization
The corporation is structured into three principal divisions:
Maxway operates 135 locations within the "junior department store" category, with store sizes ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 square feet. These outlets trade under both Maxway and Roses Express brands.
The Super 10 division encompasses 85 stores measuring between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet, functioning under various banners including "Super Dollar," "Bill's Dollar Stores," "Super 10," and "Bargain Town."
Comprising 160 stores, Roses competes in the discount and off-price retail market segment, with store footprints from 30,000 up to 70,000 square feet.