When you meet someone who has genuinely gone big—not in one field, but in three—you pause. You take notes. You listen. Because leadership at that scale doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by conviction, consistency, and a deep belief in something bigger than yourself.
Art Pope is that kind of leader.
From growing a family retail business into a regional powerhouse, to shaping public policy at the state level, to giving back in ways that transform lives for generations—Art Pope’s story is a reminder that you don’t have to choose between success and significance. You can have both. But it takes courage, clarity, and a willingness to stay in the fight when others give up.
A Legacy Built on Values and Risk
Art’s father grew up in the Great Depression and served in World War II. Like many of the greatest generation, he didn’t talk much about hardship—he built through it. He saw opportunity where others saw limitation. And he believed deeply in earning success and using it to make things better for others.
That’s where the story of Variety Wholesalers begins—a small group of five-and-dime stores serving rural communities, built one handshake, one aisle, one family at a time. Over the decades, it would grow into a 600-store operation across 16 states, employing more than 15,000 people.
But the growth wasn’t accidental. It was fueled by vision. Art Pope didn’t inherit ownership from his father. Instead, he earned his way in—taking risks, leading change, and continuing to adapt in one of the most competitive industries in America: retail.
When the opportunity came to acquire 200 Big Lots stores—and preserve over 5,000 jobs in the process—Art and his team didn’t flinch. They saw a challenge. They saw a future. And they made a move that most would have walked away from.
That’s going big.
Leading in the Public Square
It would have been enough to run a successful business. But Art Pope didn’t stop there. He brought that same mindset to public service.
As a state legislator in North Carolina and later as the state’s budget director, Art stepped into the difficult work of helping government work better. And he did it not for recognition, but because he believed in practice what you preach leadership. That conviction carried him through four terms in office, board service across the University of North Carolina system, and work with leaders committed to principled public policy.
And unlike many, Art didn’t approach government with naïve idealism or cynical resignation. He brought real-world experience to the table. He understood the balance between risk and reward. And he knew that freedom—economic and otherwise—needed to be defended, not just assumed.
Philanthropy as a Force for Freedom
When it came to giving, Art’s family didn’t just write checks—they built a foundation with a mission. The John William Pope Foundation wasn’t created to memorialize wealth. It was created to invest in future generations, to protect the conditions that allow others to rise.
Art says it clearly: giving back isn’t about guilt—it’s about responsibility.
Yes, the foundation supports food banks, education, and traditional charitable causes. But it also supports the ideas and institutions that defend liberty. Because without a society that values freedom, no amount of generosity can be sustained.
As Art puts it: it’s not enough to teach someone to fish. You need to make sure they have the right to fish, access to a market to sell it, and legal protections to ensure they get paid for their work.
That’s not just smart giving. That’s strategic giving. And it’s exactly the kind of thinking that drives long-term impact.
No Apologies for Going Big
Art Pope is a living rebuttal to small thinking.
He has built. He has served. He has given. And he’s done all of it with a belief that freedom, responsibility, and opportunity still matter.
He believes that anyone can go big—if they’re willing to take the risk, stay in the fight, and do the work.
He reminds us that business isn’t just about profit. It’s about providing value. That politics isn’t about power. It’s about stewardship. That philanthropy isn’t about image. It’s about investing in people and principles that last.
And he does it all with humility.
The Blueprint for Bold Leadership
What can we learn from someone who’s lived this kind of life?
That legacy is earned, not inherited.
That bold moves often happen in quiet moments of conviction.
That real leadership doesn’t avoid complexity—it embraces it.
That going big isn’t a strategy—it’s a mindset.
Art Pope’s journey isn’t just a business story. Or a political story. Or a philanthropic story. It’s a human story—about living out your values across every arena of life and refusing to settle for mediocrity when you’ve been given the chance to make a difference.
So if you’re wondering whether it’s still possible to go big in today’s world—look no further.
The answer is yes.
Just ask Art Pope.
