CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The former Big Lots store off Seminole Trail/29 North will become a church, if a proposed purchase is finalized.

Center Church Charlottesville, a modern, New Testament church which currently operates at 475 Westfield Road, announced on Sept. 30 that it was working to purchase the building located at 590 Branchlands Blvd.

“We’re thrilled to share that we’ve entered into a contract to purchase the Big Lots building on Branchlands Blvd.,” Center Church posted to its Facebook page. “God’s fingerprints have been all over the process and it has everything needed to become our church’s future home for ministry and hub for mission.”

The building, a 45,654-square-foot structure on 5.19 acres of property, was built in 1991.

Center Church currently holds four services every Sunday. It also has an on-grounds campus fellowship at UVA called The Salt Company.

A church spokesperson declined to comment until the sale was finalized.

Big Lots, a national closeout retailer, filed for bankruptcy in 2024 and closed eight Virginia stores, including the Charlottesville location.