Beginning this weekend, Laurens County residents will have a new retail store at which to shop with two more coming before year's end at the old Wal-Mart building on East Main Street.

According to permits recently filed with the Laurens County Building Codes and Inspection Office, a building permit was issued on Wednesday, June 9 for Big Lots to begin work on part of the building, which will eventually be sectioned off into four different stores.

A representative from the company that owns the building, RCG Ventures of Atlanta, confirmed that Big Lots had signed a lease to occupy the property, as well as Tractor Supply and It's Fashion, which will move from its current location a few doors down to the former Wal-Mart facility.

The representative said that Tractor Supply would have a soft opening this weekend on Saturday. It's Fashion is preparing to have their move completed by the end of July and Big Lots would be ready to open for business by early fall.

RCG Ventures also said they were working to secure one more tenant for the building, but no lease had been signed yet, so they declined to name who that possible new tenant could be.