ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Shoppers turned out in droves on Black Friday to one St. Louis area mall, adding to what retailers say is an upward trend in in-person shopping there in recent years.

A discount store competitor has purchased at auction the lease of a closing Big Lots store in the St. Louis area, pending approval from a bankruptcy court. Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, a closeout and ...