Big Lots in Auburn is liquidating its inventory as the company undergoes bankruptcy. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Discount retailer Big Lots now says it has a deal to keep 200-400 of its stores open, but it has not identified which stores would remain open under the deal. Big Lots and Boston-based asset liquidation firm Gordon Brothers Retail Partners announced late Friday that they struck a deal that could also save two distribution centers and some Big Lots employees in their jobs.

There are four Big Lots stores in Maine, including one at 730 Center St., Auburn and for now, the store closing sale remains on.

Big Lots filed for bankruptcy protection in September and cut a deal with private equity firm Nexus Capital Management to buy the company for $620 million. That deal fell apart last week when Big Lots announced it was closing all of its 1,300 stores and not just the underperforming ones.

For now, the Auburn location remains open seven days a week from 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Sundays from 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

The Buzz offers quick hits about trending area business happenings. Have a Buzzable tip? Contact business writer Christopher Wheelock at 689-2817 or cwheelock@sunjournal.com