Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Rankin Norman John
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
05/25/2006
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
BIG LOTS INC [BLI]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
300 PHILLIPI ROAD
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Senior Vice President
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

COLUMBUS, OH 43228
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 24,200
D
 
Common Stock 1,439
I
By 401(k) Plan (1)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Purchase Option 01/16/1998(2) 02/20/2007 Common Stock 4,072 $ 24.5477 D  
Stock Purchase Option 01/16/1998(2) 02/20/2007 Common Stock 19,350 $ 24.5477 D  
Stock Purchase Option 02/24/2003(2) 02/24/2008 Common Stock 10,000 $ 37.75 D  
Stock Purchase Option 10/13/2003(2) 10/13/2008 Common Stock 10,000 $ 16.375 D  
Stock Purchase Option 02/01/2004(2) 02/01/2009 Common Stock 25,000 $ 17.3125 D  
Stock Purchase Option 03/13/2005(2) 03/13/2010 Common Stock 10,000 $ 11.25 D  
Stock Purchase Option 11/15/2005(2) 03/05/2011 Common Stock 30,000 $ 11.74 D  
Stock Purchase Option 11/15/2005(2) 12/17/2011 Common Stock 50,000 $ 9.86 D  
Stock Purchase Option 11/15/2005(2) 02/24/2013 Common Stock 30,000 $ 10.85 D  
Stock Purchase Option 11/15/2005(2) 02/23/2014 Common Stock 100,000 $ 15.05 D  
Stock Purchase Option   (3) 02/24/2013 Common Stock 10,800 $ 12.66 D  
Phantom Stock   (4)   (5) Common Stock 2,124 (6) $ (7) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Rankin Norman John
300 PHILLIPI ROAD
COLUMBUS, OH 43228
      Senior Vice President  

Signatures

Charles W. Haubiel II, attorney in fact for Norman John Rankin 05/31/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Common stock held under the Big Lots Savings Plan ("401(k) Plan"). This information is based on a 401(k) Plan report dated May 10, 2006.
(2) The date upon which the option became fully exercisable.
(3) The option is exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning on February 24, 2007.
(4) Immediately.
(5) Not applicable.
(6) The reported phantom stock is held under the Big Lots Supplemental Savings Plan. This information is based on a plan statement dated May 10, 2006.
(7) One-for-one.

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