Is Bi-Lo (Winn-Dixie) Open Today?

About Bi-Lo (Winn-Dixie) Hours

Bi-Lo was a regional grocery chain that served communities across the southeastern United States for more than 50 years. Based in Mauldin, South Carolina, Bi-Lo was known for its affordable prices and strong presence in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Tennessee. The chain eventually merged with Winn-Dixie under the Southeastern Grocers umbrella, and by 2023, the Bi-Lo name had been fully phased out. If you're looking for Bi-Lo store hours today, you won't find any open locations - but the story of what happened to Bi-Lo and where to shop instead is worth understanding.

Bi-Lo Store Hours Before Closing

When Bi-Lo was still operating, most locations followed a consistent schedule that worked well for southeastern shoppers. The typical Bi-Lo store opened at 7:00 AM and closed at 10:00 PM or 11:00 PM, seven days a week. Some stores opened as early as 6:00 AM to accommodate early morning shoppers, and a handful of locations stayed open until midnight. Sunday hours were generally the same as weekday hours, which made Bi-Lo a convenient option for weekend grocery runs.

Bi-Lo was particularly popular in smaller towns and suburban areas across the Carolinas and northern Georgia, where it often served as the primary grocery store for the community. The stores weren't massive - most fell in the mid-size range compared to supercenters like Walmart - but they carried a solid selection of groceries, produce, and pharmacy items.

What Happened to Bi-Lo?

Bi-Lo's story is tangled up with several rounds of corporate ownership changes and bankruptcies. The chain was founded in 1961 in Greenville, South Carolina by Frank Outlaw. It grew steadily throughout the Southeast and became a household name in the Carolinas. The Dutch company Ahold acquired Bi-Lo in 2005, but the fit was never quite right. In 2009, Bi-Lo filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and was eventually sold to Lone Star Funds, a private equity firm.

In 2012, Bi-Lo Holdings merged with Winn-Dixie, creating Southeastern Grocers (SEG). The idea was that combining two regional chains would create enough scale to compete with larger players like Kroger, Publix, and Walmart. For a while, both brands continued operating side by side under the SEG umbrella.

But the combined company still struggled. Southeastern Grocers filed for bankruptcy in 2018, shed more stores, and started converting Bi-Lo locations to either Winn-Dixie or Harveys Supermarket branding. The conversion process accelerated through 2020 and 2021. By early 2023, the last Bi-Lo stores had either been rebranded as Winn-Dixie, sold to other grocers, or closed entirely. The Bi-Lo name was officially retired.

Then in late 2023, Aldi completed its acquisition of the remaining Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores from Southeastern Grocers. So the chain that absorbed Bi-Lo was itself absorbed by a discount grocery giant. Many former Bi-Lo shoppers have ended up at Aldi stores without even realizing the connection.

Where Former Bi-Lo Stores Are Now

If your local Bi-Lo closed or converted, here's where those stores typically ended up:

Publix picked up a number of former Bi-Lo locations, especially in South Carolina and Georgia. Publix had been expanding aggressively into the Carolinas market, and vacant Bi-Lo storefronts made for ready-made expansion opportunities.

Aldi now operates many of the locations that were converted to Winn-Dixie before the acquisition. If your Bi-Lo became a Winn-Dixie in 2021, it may now be an Aldi.

Food Lion absorbed some former Bi-Lo locations in the Carolinas, where Food Lion already had a strong footprint. The two chains often competed in the same markets, so the transition felt natural for shoppers.

Some locations were picked up by smaller regional chains or independent grocers. And a fair number of former Bi-Lo buildings now house completely different businesses - dollar stores, fitness centers, or sit empty in strip malls.

Shopping Alternatives in the Southeast

If Bi-Lo was your go-to grocery store, you have solid options depending on where you live:

Publix is the dominant grocery chain in the Southeast and covers most of the territory Bi-Lo used to serve. Known for customer service, clean stores, and their deli subs. Hours are typically 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily.

Kroger operates throughout the Southeast under several banners, including Harris Teeter in the Carolinas. Good prices with their loyalty card program, and most locations are open from 6:00 AM to midnight.

Aldi has been expanding rapidly in the Southeast and now owns the former Winn-Dixie locations. If you liked Bi-Lo for its prices, Aldi's discount model might be an even better fit. Most stores are open 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Walmart Supercenters are everywhere in the Southeast and offer the widest selection at competitive prices. Many locations are open from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

Trader Joe's has been adding locations throughout the Southeast for a more curated grocery experience. Hours are typically 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Ingles Markets serves parts of the Carolinas and Georgia where Bi-Lo was popular. It's employee-owned and focuses on fresh produce and local products. Most locations are open 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

Bi-Lo's Legacy in Southeastern Grocery Shopping

Bi-Lo was more than just a grocery store for a lot of people in the Carolinas and surrounding states. It was the store where families did their weekly shopping for decades. The Bi-Lo Center in Greenville, South Carolina (now called Bon Secours Wellness Arena) carried the company's name and hosted countless concerts and events. The chain sponsored local sports teams, school programs, and community events throughout its territory.

What made Bi-Lo different from the national chains was its focus on the Southeast market. The stores stocked products that reflected local tastes - particular brands of sweet tea, regional BBQ sauces, and produce that matched what southern cooks actually needed. That local knowledge was hard to replicate, and some shoppers feel that something was lost when the big national and international chains took over.

The story of Bi-Lo is really the story of regional grocery chains across America. Private equity ownership, unsustainable debt, competition from discount grocers and supercenters, and the difficulty of maintaining aging store formats all contributed to the decline. Bi-Lo joins A&P, SuperValu, and others in the growing list of once-familiar grocery names that have disappeared from the American landscape.

Holiday Hours History

When Bi-Lo was still operating, its holiday schedule followed the typical pattern for southeastern grocery stores. The chain closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day but stayed open with reduced hours on most other holidays. Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve usually saw early closings around 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM. The store was open regular hours on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, which were often busy shopping days as people prepared for cookouts and family gatherings. Easter Sunday hours varied by location - some stores closed entirely while others operated on shortened schedules. For current holiday hours at grocery stores still operating in the Southeast, check the individual store pages linked above.