Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.30

                                BUYOUT AGREEMENT

         THIS AGREEMENT is entered into and made to be effective as of the 31st
day of December, 2003, and is executed by and between UNION OIL COMPANY OF
CALIFORNIA, a California corporation, d/b/a/ Unocal (hereinafter referred to as
"Unocal") and TA OPERATING CORPORATION d/b/a TravelCenters of America, a
Delaware corporation headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, successor in interest by
merger to NATIONAL AUTO/TRUCKSTOPS, INC., (hereinafter referred to as
"NATIONAL"), and TravelCenters of America, Inc., a Delaware corporation
headquartered in Westlake, Ohio (TravelCenters of America, Inc. and TA OPERATING
CORPORATION are hereinafter referred to jointly and severally as "T/A")

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, Unocal and NATIONAL have heretofore entered into that certain
Asset Purchase Agreement as well as the Blythe, California Asset Purchase
Agreement, the Buttonwillow, California Asset Purchase Agreement, the Ontario,
California Asset Purchase Agreement, the Redding, California Asset Purchase
Agreement, the Sacramento, California Asset Purchase Agreement and the Santa
Nella, California Asset Purchase Agreement, all dated November 23, 1992, and all
amended on April 13, 1993, along with certain Schedules, Exhibits and other
documents ancillary thereto, (all hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"Asset Purchase Agreements") and that certain Environmental Agreement also dated
November 23, 1992 (hereinafter referred to as the "Environmental Agreement");
and

         WHEREAS, Unocal wishes to terminate, be released from and be
indemnified with respect to, all obligations it may have to T/A and its
Affiliates or any Governmental Authority or other third party with respect to
the environmental condition of and environmental compliance at the seventy-three
(73) locations listed in Exhibit "A" attached hereto and incorporated herein by
reference (hereinafter the "Covered Facilities"), which were originally sold to
NATIONAL by Unocal pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Asset Purchase
Agreements and also to terminate and be released from any and all remaining
obligations it may have to T/A pursuant to the terms and conditions of the
Environmental Agreement; and

         WHEREAS, Unocal and T/A wish to settle any and all past, present and
future claims which T/A may have or hereafter acquire against Unocal, pertaining
to said liabilities;

         WHEREAS, T/A is willing to enter into this Agreement in exchange for
the payment of certain monies and the provision of certain environmental
insurance policies, all as hereinafter more specifically provided; and

         NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the payment of said monies and
provision of said environmental insurance policies as hereinafter set forth and
other good and valuable

                                        1
<PAGE>

consideration, receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties
agree as follows:

1) DEFINITIONS. Any terms not defined herein shall be deemed to have the meaning
ascribed thereto in the Asset Purchase Agreements and the Environmental
Agreement, as appropriate.

2) ISSUANCE OF POLICIES. Within thirty (30) days following execution of this
agreement, the parties shall bind and thereafter cause American International
Speciality Lines Insurance Company (hereinafter AISLIC), a member of American
International Group, Inc. (hereinafter AIG) to issue an AISLIC Clean-Up Cost Cap
insurance Policy in form and content substantially identical to Exhibit "B"
attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference (hereinafter the "Cost Cap
Policy") and amend by endorsement T/A's current Pollution Legal Liability Policy
such that said policy shall thereafter be in form and content substantially
identical to Exhibit "C" attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference
(hereinafter the "PLL Policy"). Hereinafter the Cost Cap Policy and the PLL
Policy are referred to jointly as the "Policies".

3) PAYMENT OF FUNDS. Within ten business days following the effective date of
this agreement, Unocal shall pay the sum of NINE MILLION SIX HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX
THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED SIXTY-NINE DOLLARS ($9,636,969.00) into an escrow account
(hereinafter the "Escrow Account") held by NATIONAL CITY BANK (hereinafter the
"Escrow Agent"). Said funds shall thereafter be disbursed in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the Escrow Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit "D" and
incorporated herein by reference. T/A hereby acknowledges that the foregoing
amount includes the sum of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) to offset T/A's
anticipated increased administrative and overhead costs for managing the future
remediation of the Covered Facilities.

4) CONDITION PRECEDENT. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of
both Unocal and T/A hereunder that T/A obtain approval of this Agreement from
certain of its lenders (hereinafter the "Bank Approval") on or before January
31, 2004 (hereinafter the "Bank Approval Period"). Upon obtaining Bank Approval,
T/A shall immediately give written notice of same to Unocal and the Escrow Agent
(hereinafter the "Bank Approval Notice"). This Condition Precedent shall be
deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by Unocal and the Escrow Agent of the
Bank Approval Notice prior to the expiration of the Bank Approval Period. In the
event that the Bank Approval Notice is not received by Unocal and the Escrow
Agent prior to the expiration of the Bank Approval Period, this Agreement shall
be deemed to be null and void and of no further force and effect, and all funds
paid into the Escrow Account by Unocal pursuant to paragraph 3 above shall be
immediately disbursed back to Unocal. Provided however, that Unocal at its sole
and exclusive option, may extend the Bank Approval Period for an additional
thirty (30) days, upon written notice to T/A.

5) RELEASE. Effective upon binding of the Policies, T/A does hereby release
Unocal from any and all remaining duties, liabilities or obligations Unocal may
have pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Environmental Agreement,
Environmental Laws or otherwise, as well as any

                                        2
<PAGE>

and all past, present and future liability, claims, demands, Damages, actions or
causes of action, suits or causes of suit of any kind or nature whatsoever,
whether known or unknown and whether arising at law or in equity, pursuant to
the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreements, which pertain to, arise out of, in
consequence of, or on account of, the environmental condition of, or
environmental compliance at, the Covered Facilities, specifically including, but
not limited to, any Release or the presence of any Hazardous Substances or other
environmental contaminants in, upon, under or emanating from the soils, air or
groundwater of the Covered Facilities, (all of the foregoing being hereinafter
referred to as the "Released Liabilities"), which T/A or its Affiliates now have
or may hereafter acquire against Unocal, regardless of whether or not the
Released Liabilities are or have been the subject of, or have been identified
in, any Claim previously filed by T/A.

6) ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITY. Effective upon binding of the Policies, T/A hereby
assumes all liability and responsibility of Unocal and its Affiliates with
respect to the Released Liabilities and with respect to meeting or satisfying
any and all provisions of the Environmental Laws pertaining to the Released
Liabilities or the Covered Facilities.

7) INDEMNITY. Effective upon binding of the Policies, T/A does hereby indemnify,
defend and hold Unocal, its Affiliates, directors, officers, agents, attorneys,
employees, successors, endorsees, and assigns, harmless from and against any and
all past, present and future liability, claims, demands, Damages, fines,
penalties, actions or causes of action, suits or causes of suit of any kind and
nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown and whether at law or in equity,
pursuant to the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreements, the Environmental
Agreement, the Environmental Laws or otherwise, which T/A, its Affiliates or any
Governmental Authority or other third party now has or may hereafter acquire
against Unocal pertaining to, arising out of, in consequence of, or on account
of the Released Liabilities, specifically including, but not limited to, any and
all liability for Environmental Actions, Environmental Compliance Actions,
Environmental Damages and Remedial Actions at the Covered Facilities.

8) SOLD SITES RELEASE. In addition to the foregoing and effective upon binding
of the Policies, T/A does hereby release Unocal from any and all past, present
and future liability, claims, demands, Damages, actions or causes of action,
suits or causes of suit of any kind or nature whatsoever, whether known or
unknown and whether arising at law or in equity, pursuant to the terms of the
Asset Purchase Agreements, the Environmental Agreement, the Environmental Laws
or otherwise, which pertain to, arise out of, in consequence of, or on account
of, the environmental condition of, or environmental compliance at, the
twenty-four (24) locations listed in Exhibit "E" attached hereto and
incorporated herein by reference (hereinafter the "Sold Sites"), which were
originally sold to NATIONAL by Unocal pursuant to the terms and conditions of
the Asset Purchase Agreements but which have since been sold by National to
third parties, specifically including, but not limited to, any Release or the
presence of any Hazardous Substances or other environmental contaminants in,
upon, under or emanating from the soils, air or groundwater of the Covered
Facilities, which T/A or its Affiliates now have or may hereafter acquire
against Unocal, regardless of whether or not such Liabilities are or have been
the subject

                                        3
<PAGE>

of, or have been identified in, any Claim previously filed by T/A. Provided
however, that (a) T/A shall not indemnify Unocal for, nor assume any liability
of Unocal with respect to, such liabilities at the Sold Sites and (b) the
provisions of the preceding sentence shall not apply to liability of T/A arising
directly from any claim brought against T/A by a third-party (specifically
including any assignee of the Environmental Agreement for a Sold Site) or
Governmental Authority, which claim pertains solely to environmental conditions
or environmental compliance resulting from a Release that occurred prior to
April 15, 1993 at any of the Sold Sites (hereinafter "Third-Party Sold Site
Claims"). Anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the terms
and conditions of the Environmental Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect with respect to Third-Party Sold Site Claims.

9) POLICY DEDUCTIBLES. It is hereby agreed between Unocal and T/A that any and
all deductible or retention amounts required to be paid with respect to the
Policies shall be the sole and exclusive obligation of T/A, specifically
including but not limited to any separate deductible or retention amount
attributable solely to Unocal.

10) SURPLUS LINES TAXES AND FEES. To the extent any taxes or fees (specifically
including but not limited to Surplus Lines taxes and fees) shall apply to the
Policies, such taxes and fees shall be the sole and exclusive liability of T/A.

11) PLL POLICY RENEWAL. T/A hereby agrees that prior to the expiration of the
Policy Period of the PLL Policy, it shall (at its sole cost and expense) use
it's best reasonable efforts to either renew the PLL Policy or obtain coverage
substantially similar in all respects to the coverage afforded to both T/A and
Unocal under the PLL Policy. T/A shall instruct the insurer to provide Unocal
with a full and complete copy of said Policy.

12) PLL POLICY REINSTATEMENT. T/A hereby agrees that if a Coverage Section
Aggregate Limit is exhausted prior to the expiration of the Policy Period, it
shall (at its sole cost and expense) cause the PLL Policy to be reinstated in
accordance with the terms of Endorsement No. 8 thereto and that said policy as
reinstated shall continue to afford the same status and levels of coverage to
Unocal and the Covered Facilities.

13) SITE LIMIT. T/A hereby agrees that after the date of this Agreement, it
shall not schedule more than twenty (20) additional locations onto item five (5)
of the Declarations to the PLL Policy as Insured Properties. Deletion of
locations from coverage as Insured Properties under the PLL Policy shall not
increase the number of new locations that may be added.

14) SURVIVAL. Except as specifically set forth above, all other rights and
obligations owed by T/A or Unocal to one another under the terms of the Asset
Purchase Agreements shall remain and survive this Agreement, including any and
all terms and conditions of the Asset Purchase Agreements not specifically
released herein.

                                        4
<PAGE>

15) BOOKS RECORDS AND REPORTS. For a period of seven (7) years from the date of
this Agreement, T/A and Unocal shall each provide and/or make available to the
other for inspection during normal business hours, the following books, records
and reports, as applicable:

         a) On or about the 15th day of February each year, T/A shall deliver to
         Unocal, an annual written report in form and content reasonably
         satisfactory to Unocal, detailing the nature and extent of
         environmental assessment and remediation activities being conducted at
         each of the Covered Facilities, the current status of such remedial
         activities and the total dollar amount paid by T/A with respect to such
         environmental assessment and remediation activities during the
         preceding calendar year and cumulatively since the date of this
         Agreement.

         b) T/A shall provide Unocal with complete copies of all requests for
         disbursement and supporting documentation therefore sent to the Escrow
         Agent.

         c) T/A shall provide Unocal with complete copies of all Clean-up Cost
         Cap SIR Erosion Reports (commonly referred to as "Burn Reports")
         generated by T/A or AIG with respect to the Cost Cap Policy and the PLL
         Policy.

         d) Upon reasonable request, T/A and Unocal shall each make available to
         the other for inspection, review and copying all books and records in
         their respective possession and control related to the environmental
         condition of, or environmental assessment and remediation activities
         conducted at, any of the Covered Facilities or Sold Sites, specifically
         including but not limited to all financial records related thereto and
         all technical reports, filings and correspondence with regulators. All
         such books and records shall be maintained by T/A and Unocal and be
         made available to each other for a period of not less than ten (10)
         years following the completion of such environmental assessment and
         remediation activities.

16) T/A REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. T/A hereby represents and warrants to
Unocal that:

         a) It is the sole and exclusive owner of the Covered Facilities; and

         b) It is the successor in interest to NATIONAL and all of NATIONAL's
         right, title and interest in and to, and duties and obligations under,
         the Asset Purchase Agreements and Environmental Agreement; and

         c) With respect to the Covered Facilities, it has not sold, assigned or
         otherwise transferred any of its right, title and interest in, or
         duties and obligations under, the Asset Purchase Agreements or
         Environmental Agreement to any third party; and

                                        5
<PAGE>

17) AUTHORITY. Both T/A and Unocal represent and warrant that each has the sole
and exclusive right and authority to enter into this Agreement.

18) REIMBURSEMENT RIGHTS. Anything herein contained to the contrary not
withstanding, T/A and Unocal agree that nothing in this Agreement shall be
deemed to constitute a transfer or assignment by either Party to the other of
any rights to reimbursement from any state reimbursement fund for any
environmental assessment or remediation activities conducted by each Party at
its expense at the Covered Facilities or the Sold Sites, all of which rights
each Party specifically reserves unto itself. In the event that either Party
shall receive reimbursement from any state reimbursement fund for work performed
by the other Party at its expense, the receiving Party shall promptly remit such
reimbursement amount to the Party that incurred the corresponding expense.
Unocal hereby agrees to reasonably cooperate with T/A to facilitate
reimbursement from state reimbursement funds for activities conducted by T/A, at
it's expense, at any of the Covered Facilities and assign to T/A its rights to
such state reimbursement funds (to the extent attributable to work performed by
T/A at it's expense) if requested by T/A.

19) SECTION 1542 WAIVER. The parties hereto specifically waive the protections
of California Civil Code Section 1542 which provides as follows:

         "A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does
         not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the
         release, which if known by him must have materially affected his
         settlement with the debtor."

Each party has had the opportunity to speak with counsel regarding the meaning
and advisability of waiving this provision

20) AFFILIATES. As used herein, the term Unocal includes each and every one of
Unocal's Affiliates, as that term is defined in the Asset Purchase Agreement.

21) CONFLICTS. Except as specifically set forth herein, the Environmental
Agreement and the Asset Purchase Agreements shall remain in full force and
effect. In the event of a conflict between the terms of the Environmental
Agreement or the Asset Purchase Agreements and this Agreement, the terms and
conditions of this Agreement shall control, to the exclusion of the conflicting
term in such other agreement.

22) BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit
of and be enforceable by the Parties hereto and their respective parent,
subsidiary and affiliated corporations, directors, officers, agents, attorneys,
employees, successors, endorsees, and assigns.

23) NOTICES. Any notices, which any party may be required, or may desire, to
give hereunder, shall be made in the manner specified in the Environmental
Agreement or the Asset Purchase Agreements, as applicable.

                                        6
<PAGE>

24) SEVERABILITY. All provisions contained in this Agreement are severable and
the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect or impair
the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement.

25) COOPERATION DURING TRANSITION PERIOD. The Parties acknowledge that a ninety
(90) day transition period will ensue after the effective date of this Agreement
during which certain ongoing projects, permits, consent orders and other related
items at the Covered Facilities will need to be transferred from Unocal's to
T/A's responsibility and control. The Parties agree to cooperate and to perform
all reasonably necessary actions to ensure a smooth and effective transition.
Each Party will bear its own internal costs related to the transition during
this time period. Any environmental remediation or other external costs incurred
with respect to the Covered Facilities or the transition (specifically including
but not limited to costs for copying Unocal's environmental files for T/A) after
the effective date of this Agreement shall accrue to the account of T/A and
shall be the sole and exclusive obligation and responsibility of T/A. Any such
costs incurred by Unocal after said date shall be promptly paid from the Escrow
Account established pursuant to paragraph 3 above.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed as of the day and year
first written above.

TA OPERATING CORPORATION                          TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.
d/b/a TravelCenters of America
(successor in interest by merger to
NATIONAL AUTO/TRUCKSTOPS, INC.)

BY:  /s/ James W. George                            BY:  /s/ James W. George
   -------------------------------------               ---------------------
         James W. George                                     James W. George
   -------------------------------------               ---------------------
         Name (printed)                                      Name (printed)
         EVP & CFO                                           EVP & CFO
   -------------------------------------               ---------------------
         (TITLE)                                             (TITLE)

UNION OIL COMPANY OF
CALIFORNIA, d/b/a Unocal

BY:  /s/ J. J. Dean
   -----------------------------
         J. J. Dean
   -----------------------------
         Name (printed)
         Operations Team Manager
   -----------------------------
         (TITLE)

                                        7
<PAGE>

                                  - EXHIBIT A -
                           LIST OF COVERED FACILITIES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   SITE
#       SITE #           CITY              ST                    ADDRESS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>   <C>            <C>                   <C>   <C>
1     9722-508       Mobile                AL    I-10 & Grand Bay Road, Exit 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2     9884-510       Montgomery            AL    I-65 & U.S. 80/82 @ W. South Blvd.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3     000-6730       Kingman               AZ    I-40 & U.S. 93
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4     000-6327       Buttonwillow          CA    I-5 & S.R. 58
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5     000-6336       Ontario               CA    I-10 & Milliken Avenue Exit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6     000-6437       Redding               CA    I-5 & Knighton Road
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7     000-6290       Santa Nella           CA    I-5 & Hwy. 33, Santa Nella Exit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8     000-6398       Denver                CO    I-70 & Ward Road, Exit 266
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9     9856-511       Branford              CT    I-95 @ CT Exit 56
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10    9784-512       Southington           CT    I-84 & Hwy. 322, Exit 28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11    9878-522       Baldwin               FL    I-10 & U.S. 301 South, Exit 50
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12    9715-510       Marianna              FL    I-10 & S.R. 71
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13    9879-523       St. Augustine         FL    I-95 & C.R. 210 West, Exit 96
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14    9778-510       Vero Beach            FL    I-95 & S.R. 66, Exit 68
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15    9880-511       Wildwood              FL    I-75 & S.R. 44, Exit 66
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16    9562-510       Commerce              GA    I-85 & U.S. 441, Exit 149
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17    9735-510       Jackson               GA    I-75 & Hwy 36, Exit 201
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18    9882-510       Lake Park             GA    I-75 @ Exit 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19    9725-510       Madison               GA    I-20 & U.S. 441, Exit 114
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20    9783-516       Savannah              GA    I-95 & U.S. 17 South, Exit 87
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21    9706-511       Council Bluffs        IA    I-80 & I-29, Exit 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22    9753-534       Bloomington           IL    I-55, I-74, I-39 @ Route 9, Exit 160A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23    9754-516       Elgin                 IL    I-90 & U.S. 20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24    9721-510       Mt. Vernon            IL    I-57 & I-64
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25    9863-510       Clayton               IN    I-70 & S.R. 39, Exit 59
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26    9865-521       Whitestown            IN    I-65 & S.R. 334, Exit 130
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27    9873-520       Florence              KY    I-75, Exit 181
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28    9724-522       Lafayette             LA    I-10 & S.R. 182
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29    9836-511       Slidell               LA    I-10, Exit 266
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30    9841-512       Tallulah              LA    I-20 & U.S. 65, Exit 171
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31    9779-517       Elkton                MD    I-95, Exit 109B
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
32    9780-513       Ann Arbor             MI    I-94, Exit 167
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
33    9738-515       Saginaw               MI    I-75, Exit 144
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
34    9893-510       Sawyer                MI    I-94, Exit 12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
35    9729-510       Rogers                MN    I-94 & Hwy. 101, Exit 207
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
36    9815-514       Foristell             MO    I-70 & Route W, Exit 203
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
37    9766-512       Matthews              MO    I-55 & Hwy. 80, Exit 58
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
38    9826-516       Oak Grove             MO    I-70 & Route H, Exit 28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                        8
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>   <C>            <C>                   <C>   <C>
39    9848-510       Meridian              MS    I-20 & I-59, Exit 160
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40    9722-512       Grand Island          NE    I-80, Exit 305
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
41    9775-510       Ogallala              NE    I-80, Exit 126
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
42    9854-512       Bloomsbury            NJ    I-78, Exit 7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
43    000-6312       Albuquerque           NM    I-25 N., Candelaria Exit 227A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
44    000-6322       Las Vegas             NV    I-15, Blue Diamond Exit 33
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
45    000-6375       Sparks                NV    I-80, Exit 19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
46    9830-518       Pembroke              NY    I-90 & S.R. 77, Exit 48A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
47    9764-531       Columbus              OH    I-70 & U.S. 42, Exit 79
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
48    9875-520       Hebron                OH    I-70 @ Ohio 37, Exit 126
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
49    9876-520       Jeffersonville        OH    I-71, Exit 65
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50    9869-514       Kingsville            OH    I-90, Exit 235
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
51    9799-510       North Canton          OH    I-77, Exit 111
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
52    9870-522       Seville               OH    I-71 & U.S. 224, Exit 209
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
53    9872-512       Toledo                OH    I-80 & I-280, Exit 71
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
54    9745-514       Youngstown            OH    I-80 & S.R. 46, Exit 223A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
55    9827-510       Oklahoma City         OK    I-40 & Morgan, Exit 140
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
56    000-6309       Portland              OR    I-5, Exit 278
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
57    9825-515       North East            PA    I-90 & S.R. 20, Exit 12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
58    9711-530       Manning               SC    I-95 & S.R. 261, Exit 119
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
59    9771-510       Denmark               TN    I-40 & Hwy. 138, Exit 68
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
60    9886-511       Franklin              TN    I-65, Exit 61
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
61    9895-510       Knoxville             TN    I-40 & I-75, Exit 369
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
62    9741-518       Nashville             TN    I-24, Exit 62
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
63    9851-511       Amarillo              TX    I-40 & Whitaker Road, Exit 74
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
64    9812-511       Denton                TX    I-35 & U.S. 77, Exit 471
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
65    9833-513       Rockwall              TX    I-30 & S.R. 205, Exit 68
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
66    9840-510       Sweetwater            TX    I-20 & Hopkins Road, Exit 242
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
67    000-6334       Tooele                UT    I-80 & Lakepoint, Exit 99
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
68    9717-541       Ashland               VA    I-95 & S.R. 802, Exit 89
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
69    9713-510       Wytheville            VA    I-77, Exit 41 I-81, Exit 72
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
70    9860-513       Hudson                WI    I-94 & U.S. 12, Exit 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
71    9866-510       Madison               WI    I-90/I-94 & U.S. 51, Exit 132
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
72    9877-510       Hurricane             WV    I-64 & Rt. 34, Exit 39
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
73    9723-510       Martinsburg           WV    I-81 & S.R. 901, Exit 20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                        9
<PAGE>

                                  - EXHIBIT B -

[Copy of the Cost Cap Policy omitted]

                                       10
<PAGE>

                                  - EXHIBIT C -

[Copy of the PLL Policy omitted]

                                       11
<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT "D"
                               TO BUYOUT AGREEMENT

                                ESCROW AGREEMENT

DATE: DECEMBER 31, 2003

ESCROW NUMBER: _______________

         This Escrow Agreement (this "Agreement") is entered into as of the date
set forth above by and among NATIONAL CITY BANK, as escrow agent ("Escrow
Agent"); UNION OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA, a California corporation ("Unocal");
and TA OPERATING CORPORATION d/b/a TravelCenters of America, a Delaware
corporation headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, successor in interest by merger to
NATIONAL AUTO/TRUCKSTOPS, INC., (hereinafter referred to as "NATIONAL"), and
TravelCenters of America, Inc., a Delaware corporation headquartered in
Westlake, Ohio (TravelCenters of America, Inc. and TA OPERATING CORPORATION are
hereinafter referred to jointly and severally as "T/A").

                                    RECITALS

         A.       Unocal and T/A are parties to a certain Buyout Agreement dated
as of December 31, 2003 (the "Buyout Agreement"). Pursuant to the Buyout
Agreement, Unocal has agreed to pay the amount of money specified therein to
T/A, upon the terms and conditions contained therein, as full and final
settlement of certain environmental obligations for seventy-three (73) sites
previously conveyed to T/A, a list of which is attached to this Agreement as
EXHIBIT "A" which is hereby incorporated herein (the "Covered Facilities"),
which obligations had been retained by Unocal in certain agreements described
therein between the parties.

         B.       Pursuant to the terms of the Buyout Agreement, Unocal and T/A
have agreed to establish an escrow upon the terms contained in this Agreement.

         C.       Escrow Agent has agreed to act as the escrow agent for the
escrow, upon the terms contained in this Agreement.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the
mutual covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:

                                  INSTRUCTIONS

         1.       Total Escrowed Funds. On or before the date which is ten (10)
days from the date hereof, Unocal shall deposit into the above-referenced escrow
(the "Escrow") the sum of Nine Million Six Hundred Thirty-Six Thousand Nine
Hundred Sixty-Nine Dollars ($9,636,969.00) (the "Total Escrowed Funds"), which
Escrow Agent is hereby instructed to invest only in such

                                       12
<PAGE>

investments as T/A shall specify in writing. Absent written instructions to the
contrary, Escrow Agent shall invest the Total Escrowed Funds in Armada Money
Market Fund (the "Armada Fund"), for which the Escrow Agent or an affiliate
thereof serves as an investment advisor and receives a fee. Both Unocal and T/A
shall execute a disclosure form regarding Escrow Agent's affiliation with such
Armada Fund. Unocal shall pay the Acceptance Fee as further described below to
Escrow Agent upon all parties' execution of this Agreement. Unocal and T/A each
acknowledge that they each must provide copies of their respective articles of
incorporation and W-9 either by fax or electronically to establish the Escrow.

         2.       Instructions Concerning Obtaining or Failure to Obtain Lender
Approval. The transaction described in the Buyout Agreement is contingent upon
T/A's obtaining approval of such transaction from T/A's lenders (the "T/A
Lenders"). In the event T/A obtains approval from the T/A Lenders of the terms
and conditions of the Buyout Agreement on or before January 31, 2004 (the
"Determination Date"), T/A shall so notify Escrow Agent and Unocal in writing,
and Escrow Agent shall continue to hold the Total Escrowed Funds as set forth in
Section 1 above. In the event T/A does not obtain approval from the T/A Lenders
of the terms and conditions of the Buyout Agreement on or before the
Determination Date, then T/A shall provide notice thereof in writing to Escrow
Agent with a copy to Unocal, the Buyout Agreement shall terminate in its
entirety, the Escrow shall be cancelled, and Escrow Agent shall return the Total
Escrowed Funds to Unocal upon receipt of the fee then due to Escrow Agent, which
fee shall consist of the first year's escrow fee and shall be paid one-half
(1/2) by T/A and one-half (1/2) by Unocal (which amount payable by Unocal shall
be deducted from the Total Escrowed Fees).

         3.       Instructions Concerning Payments of Insurance Premiums from
Total Escrowed Funds. Pursuant to the Buyout Agreement, T/A is to obtain a
certain Cost Cap Insurance Policy (the "Cost Cap Policy") from American
International Speciality Lines Insurance Company ("AISLIC"), a member of
American International Group, Inc. ("AIG") and to obtain an amendment by
endorsement of T/A's current Pollution Legal Liability Policy (the
"Endorsement"). As long as this Agreement has not terminated pursuant to failure
to obtain approval by the T/A Lenders as described in Section 2 above, and upon
such time as Escrow Agent is provided with written confirmation (the "Insurance
Confirmation") from both T/A and Unocal that (i) T/A has received a binder from
AIG and AIG is ready to issue the Cost Cap Policy, and (ii) AIG is ready to
amend by endorsement T/A's existing Pollution Legal Liability Policy, which
Insurance Confirmation shall also provide instructions as to where Escrow Agent
is to direct payment, then Escrow Agent shall, within five (5) days of receipt
of such written Insurance Confirmation, pay to AON Environmental, Inc. ("AON"),
which company is a broker for AIG, the amount of One Million Twelve Thousand
Nine Hundred Sixty-Nine Dollars ($1,012,969.00) from the Total Escrowed Funds
for the Cost Cap Policy premium in accordance with the instructions contained in
the Insurance Confirmation, and shall also pay to AON the amount of Four Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($400,000.00) from the balance of the Total Escrowed Funds for
the Endorsement premium in accordance with the instructions contained in the
Insurance Confirmation. Furthermore, within five (5) days after receipt of the
Insurance Confirmation, Escrow Agent shall pay to T/A the sum of Two Million Six
Hundred Nine

                                       13
<PAGE>

Thousand Dollars ($2,609,000.00) from the Total Escrowed Funds. In the event
Escrow Agent does not receive the Insurance Confirmation on or before the
Determination Date, then the Buyout Agreement shall terminate in its entirety,
the escrow shall be cancelled, and Escrow Agent and shall return the Total
Escrowed Funds to Unocal upon receipt of the fees then due to Escrow Agent,
which fee shall consist of the first year's escrow fee and shall be paid
one-half (1/2) by T/A and one-half (1/2) by Unocal (which amount payable by
Unocal shall be deducted from the Total Escrowed Fees).

         4.       Escrow Fees. In the event T/A obtains approval from T/A's
Lenders as set forth in Section 2 above, and T/A further obtains the insurance
described in Section 3 above, then the Escrow Agent's fees, in the amounts
previously agreed among Unocal, T/A and Escrow Agent as set forth on EXHIBIT "B"
to this Agreement, shall be paid as follows: except for the Acceptance Fee,
which shall have been paid previously by Unocal as described in Section 1 above,
and except for the sweep fees attributable to investments in the Armada Fund
(which sweep fees shall be debited from the Total Escrowed Funds and interest
thereon), all other escrow fees shall be paid by T/A during the term of the
Escrow. If this Agreement is not terminated on or before the Determination Date,
then except for the Acceptance Fee and the administrative sweep fee as
designated on Exhibit "B" for investment in the Armada Fund, all fees shall be
invoiced in arrears to T/A and the amounts thereof shall be deducted thirty (30)
days thereafter from interest payments due to T/A.

         5.       Term of the Escrow. Unless terminated in accordance with
Section 2 above for failure to obtain Lender Approval, pursuant to Section 3
above regarding obtaining of insurance, or pursuant to Section 9 below in the
event of a default by T/A, the Escrow is to remain in effect until the date
which is seven (7) years from the Determination Date (the "Expiration Date").
All of the following instructions shall be in effect as long as the Escrow is
not terminated pursuant to Sections 2 or 3 above or Section 9 below.

         6.       Interest. All interest earned on the Total Escrowed Funds,
from the date of this Agreement and up to the date of the first disbursement of
any portion of the Total Escrowed Funds, shall be paid by Escrow Agent to Unocal
within five (5) days after the first disbursement of any portion of the Total
Escrowed Funds in an amount as specified in a joint instruction from Unocal and
T/A. All interest earned on the balance of the Total Escrow Funds following the
first disbursement shall be paid to T/A in accordance with Section 8(b) below.

         7.       Transition Period. A portion of the Total Escrowed Funds
consisting of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) (the "Transition
Funds") will be separately allocated for environmental remediation and other
transaction-related costs (the "Transition Costs") incurred by Unocal at the
Covered Facilities during the ninety (90) day transition period after the
Determination Date (the "Transition Period"). Unocal will review, approve and
pay the invoices for Transition Costs received from third-party contractors for
work performed during the Transition Period, and within ten (10) days after
expiration of the Transition Period shall submit

                                       14
<PAGE>

to Escrow Agent (with a copy sent to T/A) written instructions to (i) pay
directly to Unocal from the Transition Funds the amount Unocal has paid or will
pay for invoices for the Transition Costs, which amount shall be specified in
the written instructions; and (ii) pay the balance of any remaining Transition
Funds to T/A. Escrow Agent shall disburse the amounts designated from the
Transition Funds to Unocal and T/A as designated in Unocal's escrow
instructions, and Escrow Agent shall be entitled to rely on instructions from
Unocal alone regarding such disbursement of the Transition Funds.

         8.       Invoice Payments by Escrow Agent During Remaining Time Until
Expiration Date. Escrow Agent shall hold the remaining balance of the Total
Escrowed Funds, consisting of Five Million Four Hundred Fifteen Thousand Dollars
($5,415,000.00) (the "Escrowed Balance") for payment of environmental
remediation costs incurred by T/A, or for which TA is responsible, for work
performed by third-party contractors or Governmental Authorities at the Covered
Facilities, and is hereby instructed to make payments from the Escrowed Balance
as follows:

                  (a)      T/A shall submit disbursement instructions in the
         form of EXHIBIT "C" to this Agreement (the "T/A Disbursement
         Instructions") to Escrow Agent on a quarterly basis, along with copies
         of invoices received from, and checks disbursed to, third-party
         contractors or Governmental Authorities, which form of T/A Disbursement
         Instructions contains T/A's certification that all third-party
         contractors or Governmental Authorities for whom reimbursement is
         sought from the Escrowed Balance have been paid.

         (b)     Escrow Agent is hereby directed to pay to T/A from the
         Escrowed Balance the total amount set forth on such T/A Disbursement
         Instructions. Escrow Agent is also hereby instructed to pay all
         interest on the remaining Escrowed Balance to T/A quarterly upon
         receipt of escrow instructions from T/A unless Escrow Agent and T/A
         have agreed in writing that no such escrow instructions are required,
         less any accrued and agreed-upon escrow fees and expenses.

          (c)    Within thirty (30) days following the Expiration Date, any
         amount remaining in Escrow, including any remaining portion of the
         Escrowed Balance, and any interest, shall be disbursed to T/A.

         9.       Events of Default by T/A.

         (a)      In the event either of the following occur, they shall be
         deemed events of default ("Event of Default") by T/A that are expressly
         subject to the terms of this Section 9:

                                    (i)      T/A has failed to remediate the
                           Covered Facilities in a timely manner in accordance
                           with the requirements of any Governmental Authority
                           with authority over the remediation; or

                                       15
<PAGE>

                           (ii)     Unocal is required by any Governmental
                  Authority or third party to perform environmental remediation
                  at any Covered Facility.

                  (b)      Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
         contrary, in the event Unocal provides written notification to Escrow
         Agent and T/A of any Event of Default ("Default Notice"), the Escrow
         Agent shall not make any distributions of the remaining portion of the
         Total Escrowed Funds, or any interest thereon, until the Default Notice
         is resolved in accordance with this Paragraph 9; provided that, no
         Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred or exist, if within
         30 days of receipt of a Notice of Default, T/A commences activities, in
         good faith, to cure or otherwise resolve such Event of Default and the
         Escrow Agent and Unocal have received written notice of such activities
         ("Notice of Cure") and Unocal does not submit a Dispute of Cure Notice
         in accordance with Section 9(c) below. Escrow Agent shall not be
         required to inquire into or consider whether a Notice of Cure is valid.

                  (c)      If (i) T/A fails to provide a Notice of Cure in
         accordance with Section 9(b) and provides a written notice (a "Counter
         Notice") to Unocal and the Escrow Agent specifying a dispute of any
         Default Notice, including setting forth in particularity the basis for
         such dispute, and such is delivered to the Escrow Agent and Unocal
         within thirty (30) days following receipt by the Escrow Agent and T/A
         of the Default Notice, or (ii) Unocal provides a written notice
         ("Dispute of Cure Notice") to T/A and the Escrow Agent specifying a
         dispute of any Notice of Cure, including setting forth in particularity
         the basis for such dispute, and such is delivered to the Escrow Agent
         and T/A within thirty (30) days following receipt by the Escrow Agent
         and Unocal of the Notice of Cure (such Counter Notice or Dispute of
         Cure Notice to be hereinafter referred to as a "Disputed Claim") such
         Disputed Claim shall be resolved as provided in Section 9(d). Escrow
         Agent shall not be required to inquire into or consider whether a
         Counter Notice or Dispute of Cure Notice, as the case may be, is valid
         or has merit.

                  (d)      If a Disputed Claim arises pursuant to Paragraph 9(c)
         herein, Unocal and T/A shall use their best efforts to resolve such
         Disputed Claim. If the parties are unable to resolve the Disputed Claim
         within fifteen (15) days after the date the Counter Notice is received
         by Unocal and the Escrow Agent or the Dispute of Cure Notice is
         received by T/A and Escrow Agent, as the case may be, then such
         Disputed Claim shall be settled in accordance with the dispute
         resolution mechanisms provided for in Section 9 (e) of this Agreement
         (a "Proceeding").

                  (e)      Unocal and T/A agree that any and all Disputed Claims
         that are not resolved as provided in Section 9(d) hereof, shall be
         settled solely and exclusively by arbitration ("Arbitration") to be
         held in Cleveland, Ohio, in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act
         and using the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration
         Association (the "AAA"). A panel of three (3) arbitrators shall be
         used. Each party shall

                                       16
<PAGE>

         choose one (1) neutral arbitrator, and the third arbitrator shall be
         chosen by the two (2) arbitrators selected by the parties. If the first
         two arbitrators cannot agree within thirty (30) days after commencement
         of the Proceeding upon the appointment of the third arbitrator, the
         third arbitrator shall be appointed by the AAA in accordance with its
         then existing rules. For purposes of this paragraph, the "commencement
         of the Proceeding" shall be deemed to be the date upon which a written
         demand for arbitration is received by the AAA from one of the parties.
         The arbitrators' decision shall be final and binding, and may be
         entered and enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction; provided
         that, in no case shall the arbitrators award to Unocal (nor shall
         Unocal be entitled to) any remaining portion of the Total Escrow Funds
         in excess of the amount of costs actually incurred or paid by Unocal
         (including costs actually incurred by Unocal after the Arbitration) to
         (x) cure the Event of Default, or (y) perform the necessary remediation
         as a result of the Event of Default, in each case (x) and (y), in order
         to comply with Environmental Laws, a requirement of any Governmental
         Authority pursuant to Environmental Laws or a court order.

                  T/A and Unocal shall bear its own expenses in connection with
         alternative dispute resolution procedures set forth in this paragraph,
         except that those parties shall split equally the costs associated with
         any Arbitration.

                  All communications made in connection with the alternative
         dispute resolution procedure set forth in this section shall be treated
         as communications for the purposes of settlement and as such shall be
         deemed to be confidential and inadmissible in any subsequent litigation
         by virtue of Rule 408 of the Federal Rules of Evidence.

         (f)      In the event Escrow Agent has received a Default Notice, then
         Escrow Agent is hereby instructed to retain the remaining portions of
         the Total Escrowed Funds, and any interest thereon, until any of the
         following occur:

                           (i)      If T/A fails to provide a Notice of Cure in
                  accordance with Section 9(b), and the Escrow Agent does not
                  receive a Counter Notice from T/A within the thirty (30) day
                  period described in Section 9(c) above, then Escrow Agent is
                  instructed to periodically disburse to Unocal from the
                  remaining portions of the Total Escrow Funds, the amount of
                  costs actually incurred or paid by Unocal to (x) cure the
                  Event of Default or (y) perform the necessary remediation as a
                  result of the Event of Default, in each case (x) and (y), in
                  order to comply with Environmental Laws, a requirement of any
                  Governmental Authority pursuant to Environmental Laws or a
                  court order, and any interest thereon, within ten (10) days
                  thereafter; provided that, once the Escrow Agent's obligation
                  to disburse payments to Unocal from the Total Escrow Funds
                  following an Event of Default has been established in
                  accordance with the preceding sentence of this Section
                  9(f)(i), Unocal may continue to submit requests for payment by
                  the Escrow Agent from the remaining Total Escrow Funds for
                  costs actually incurred or paid by

                                       17
<PAGE>

                  Unocal to (x) cure such Event of Default or (y) perform the
                  necessary remediation as a result of such Event of Default, in
                  each case (x) and (y), in order to comply with Environmental
                  Laws, a requirement of any Governmental Authority pursuant to
                  Environmental Laws or a court order.

                           (ii)     Receipt by the Escrow Agent of a Notice of
                  Cure, provided that the Escrow Agent does not receive a
                  Dispute of Cure Notice from Unocal in accordance with Section
                  9(c) above.

                           (iii)    If Escrow Agent receives a Counter Notice
                  from T/A within the thirty (30) day period described in
                  Section 9(c) above or if Escrow Agent receives a Dispute of
                  Cure Notice from Unocal within the thirty (30) day period
                  described in Section 9(c) above, then Unocal and T/A shall
                  notify Escrow Agent in writing as to the resolution of the
                  Disputed Claim as set forth in Section 9(d) above. If Unocal
                  and T/A have agreed mutually to a resolution of a Disputed
                  Claim then Unocal and T/A shall provide joint written escrow
                  instructions to Escrow Agent; provided that, in no event shall
                  the Escrow Agent disburse, or shall Unocal be entitled to, any
                  remaining portion of the Total Escrow Funds in excess of the
                  amounts actually incurred or paid by Unocal to (x) cure the
                  Event of Default or (y) perform any necessary remediation as a
                  result of the Event of Default, in each case (x) and (y), in
                  order to comply with Environmental Laws, a requirement of any
                  Governmental Authority pursuant to Environmental Laws or a
                  court order.

                           (iv)     If the dispute is submitted to arbitration,
                  then Escrow Agent shall continue to hold all remaining
                  portions of the Total Escrowed Funds, and all interest
                  thereon, until Escrow Agent is provided joint written
                  instructions from Unocal and T/A based upon the arbitrators'
                  final decision.

         Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the Escrow Agent shall
not disburse any payments to Unocal unless and until Unocal submits to the
Escrow Agent, along with any joint disbursement instructions required in
accordance with Section 9(f)(iii) above, copies of supporting documentation of
the same type and nature, including the corresponding certification by Unocal,
required to be submitted by T/A in accordance with Section 8(a) above.

         10.      Disputes Between Unocal and T/A. In the event of a dispute
between Unocal and T/A not otherwise resolved in accordance with Sections 9(d)
or 9(e) above, an ambiguity in the provisions governing this Escrow Agreement,
or uncertainty on the part of Escrow Agent as to how to proceed, Escrow Agent
may (i) refrain from taking any action other than to safely keep the escrowed
funds until Escrow Agent shall have received joint written instructions from
Unocal and T/A, or (ii) deposit the escrowed funds and all other escrowed items
into a court of competent jurisdiction and thereupon have no further duties or
responsibilities in connection therewith.

                                       18
<PAGE>

         11.      Escrow Agent.

                  (a)      Escrow Agent's duties are purely ministerial, and
         Escrow Agent shall under no circumstances be deemed a fiduciary of any
         of the parties to this Agreement. Escrow Agent undertakes to perform
         only such duties as are specifically set forth herein. Escrow Agent may
         rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon
         any written notice, instruction or request furnished to it hereunder
         and believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented
         by the proper party or parties. Notwithstanding anything to the
         contrary contained in this Escrow Agreement, where any action is
         specified to be taken by Escrow Agent upon delivery by either Unocal or
         T/A of a notice or instructions to Escrow Agent, Escrow Agent shall not
         be obligated to take any action until the appropriate party has acted
         by delivering the notice or instructions hereunder and indicating in
         writing that a copy of such notice or instructions has been delivered
         to the other party. It is acknowledged by Unocal and T/A that Escrow
         Agent is bound only by the terms of this Escrow Agreement, and that
         Escrow Agent is not a party to the Buyout Agreement, is not bound by
         any of its terms, and shall not be required to refer to the Buyout
         Agreement for any instructions. This Agreement sets forth all matters
         pertinent to the duties of Escrow Agent contemplated hereunder, and no
         additional obligations of Escrow Agent shall be inferred from the terms
         of this Agreement or any other Agreement.

                  (b)      Escrow Agent shall in all events act in good faith.
         Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by it in good
         faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the rights or
         powers conferred upon it by this Agreement, and may consult with
         counsel of its own choice and shall have full and complete
         authorization and protection for any action taken or suffered by it
         hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the opinion of such
         counsel.

                  (c)      Unocal and T/A agree jointly and severally to
         indemnify Escrow Agent and hold Escrow Agent harmless against any and
         all liabilities incurred by it hereunder, except for liabilities
         incurred by Escrow Agent resulting from its own willful misconduct or
         gross negligence.

                  (d)      Provided the terms of this Escrow Agreement can be
         complied with, Escrow Agent will not withhold completion and settlement
         thereof, unless restrained by an order of a court of competent
         jurisdiction or served with some other similar legal proceeding, and in
         so doing, Escrow Agent will not become liable to Unocal or T/A for its
         failure or refusal to comply with conflicting or adverse claims or
         demands.

                  (e)      Unocal and T/A acknowledge that Escrow Agent will
         only accept further escrow instructions from the representatives of
         each of them who have executed this Agreement below unless such party
         provides a written instruction to Escrow Agent

                                       19
<PAGE>

         executed by the below signatory authorizing Escrow Agent to accept
         further escrow instructions executed by another specified
         representative of such party.

         12.      Successor Agent. Escrow Agent may resign and be discharged
from its duties or obligations hereunder by giving not less than thirty (30)
days' notice in writing to the parties of such resignation specifying a date
when such resignation shall take effect. Unocal and T/A agree to designate a
successor escrow agent, by a written instrument delivered to Escrow Agent,
together with the acceptance of such successor on or before such effective date.
After the effective date of such resignation, Escrow Agent shall be under no
further obligation to perform any of the duties of Escrow Agent under this
Escrow Agreement other than to deliver the escrowed funds, and any notices or
other written communications or documents received by Escrow Agent in its
capacity as such, to the successor escrow agent.

13.      Miscellaneous. This Escrow Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio. This Escrow
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the parties
hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Escrow Agreement may be
executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original,
but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section headings contained in this Escrow Agreement have been inserted for
reference purposes only, and shall not be construed as part of this Escrow
Agreement. In the event that the bank acting as Escrow Agent merges or
consolidates with another bank or sells or transfers all or substantially all of
its assets or trust business, then the successor or resulting bank shall be the
Escrow Agent hereunder without the necessity of further action or the execution
of any document, so long as such successor or resulting bank meets the
requirements of a successor escrow agent hereunder. For purposes of this Escrow
Agreement, "Governmental Authority" shall mean any foreign, domestic, federal,
territorial, state or local governmental authority, quasi-governmental
authority, instrumentality, court, government or self-regulatory organization,
commission, tribunal or organization or any regulatory, administrative or other
agency, or any political or other subdivision, department or branch of any of
the foregoing.

         14.      Notices. Any notices, requests, approvals or elections
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed received when (a) personally
served, (b) three (3) days after mailing by certified or registered United
States mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (c) one (1) day after
transmission by facsimile machine, with transmission and receipt confirmed, and
an original sent by United States mail,

                  addressed to T/A as follows:

                  TA Operating Corporation dba TravelCenters of America
                  24601 Center Ridge Road, Suite 200
                  Westlake, Ohio 44145
                  ATTN: James W. George

                                       20
<PAGE>

                  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                  fax 440-808-3301

                  With a copy to:

                  TA Operating Corporation dba TravelCenters of America
                  24601 Center Ridge Road, Suite 200
                  Westlake, Ohio 44145
                  ATTN: Steven C. Lee
                  Vice President & General Counsel
                  Fax 440-808-4310

                  and addressed to Unocal as follows:

                  Union Oil Company of California
                  2210 W. Pine River Road
                  Breckenridge, MI   48615
                  Attn: J. J. Dean
                  Operations Team Manager, Real Estate and Remediation
                  Phone: 989.842.3054
                  Fax: 989.842.1371

                  With a copy to:

                  Union Oil Company of California
                  14141 Southwest Freeway
                  Sugar Land, TX 77478
                  Attn.: John F. Ashburn, Jr.
                  Assistant Counsel
                  Phone: (281)287-7218
                  Fax: (281)276-9077

                  and addressed to Escrow Agent as follows:

                  National City Bank
                  Attn:  Dawn DeWerth    LOC 01-2111
                  1900 East 9th Street
                  Cleveland, Ohio  44114
                  Telephone: 216-222-9225
                  Facsimile: 216-222-7044

         15.      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts and all counterparts so executed shall constitute one Agreement
binding on the parties hereto.

                                       21
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed as of the day and year
first written above.

TA OPERATING CORPORATION            TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.
d/b/a TravelCenters of America
(successor in interest by merger to
NATIONAL AUTO/TRUCKSTOPS, INC.)

BY:  /s/ James W. George                     BY:  /s/ James W. George
   --------------------------------             --------------------------------
         James W. George                              James W. George
   --------------------------------             --------------------------------
         Name (printed)                               Name (printed)
         EVP & CFO                                    EVP & CFO
   --------------------------------             --------------------------------
         (TITLE)                                      (TITLE)

UNION OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA

BY:  /s/ J. J. Dean
   --------------------------------
         J. J. Dean
   --------------------------------
         Name (printed)
         Operations Team Manager
   --------------------------------
         (TITLE)

ESCROW AGENT: NATIONAL CITY BANK

BY:  /s/ Brian R. Utrup
   --------------------------------
         Brian R. Utrup
   --------------------------------
         Name (printed)
         Vice President
   --------------------------------
         (TITLE)

                                       22
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT LIST

EXHIBIT "A"                List of Covered Facilities

EXHIBIT "B"                Escrow Fees

EXHIBIT "C"                Form of Disbursement Instructions to T/A

                                       23
<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT "A"
                           LIST OF COVERED FACILITIES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  SITE
#        SITE #            CITY           ST                     ADDRESS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>   <C>            <C>                  <C>   <C>
1     9722-508       Mobile               AL    I-10 & Grand Bay Road, Exit 4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2     9884-510       Montgomery           AL    I-65 & U.S. 80/82 @ W. South Blvd.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3     000-6730       Kingman              AZ    I-40 & U.S. 93
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4     000-6327       Buttonwillow         CA    I-5 & S.R. 58
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5     000-6336       Ontario              CA    I-10 & Milliken Avenue Exit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6     000-6437       Redding              CA    I-5 & Knighton Road
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7     000-6290       Santa Nella          CA    I-5 & Hwy. 33, Santa Nella Exit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8     000-6398       Denver               CO    I-70 & Ward Road, Exit 266
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9     9856-511       Branford             CT    I-95 @ CT Exit 56
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10    9784-512       Southington          CT    I-84 & Hwy. 322, Exit 28
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11    9878-522       Baldwin              FL    I-10 & U.S. 301 South, Exit 50
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12    9715-510       Marianna             FL    I-10 & S.R. 71
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13    9879-523       St. Augustine        FL    I-95 & C.R. 210 West, Exit 96
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14    9778-510       Vero Beach           FL    I-95 & S.R. 66, Exit 68
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15    9880-511       Wildwood             FL    I-75 & S.R. 44, Exit 66
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16    9562-510       Commerce             GA    I-85 & U.S. 441, Exit 149
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17    9735-510       Jackson              GA    I-75 & Hwy 36, Exit 201
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18    9882-510       Lake Park            GA    I-75 @ Exit 2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19    9725-510       Madison              GA    I-20 & U.S. 441, Exit 114
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20    9783-516       Savannah             GA    I-95 & U.S. 17 South, Exit 87
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21    9706-511       Council Bluffs       IA    I-80 & I-29, Exit 3
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22    9753-534       Bloomington          IL    I-55, I-74, I-39 @ Route 9, Exit 160A
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23    9754-516       Elgin                IL    I-90 & U.S. 20
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24    9721-510       Mt. Vernon           IL    I-57 & I-64
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25    9863-510       Clayton              IN    I-70 & S.R. 39, Exit 59
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26    9865-521       Whitestown           IN    I-65 & S.R. 334, Exit 130
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27    9873-520       Florence             KY    I-75, Exit 181
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28    9724-522       Lafayette            LA    I-10 & S.R. 182
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29    9836-511       Slidell              LA    I-10, Exit 266
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30    9841-512       Tallulah             LA    I-20 & U.S. 65, Exit 171
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31    9779-517       Elkton               MD    I-95, Exit 109B
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
32    9780-513       Ann Arbor            MI    I-94, Exit 167
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
33    9738-515       Saginaw              MI    I-75, Exit 144
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
34    9893-510       Sawyer               MI    I-94, Exit 12
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
35    9729-510       Rogers               MN    I-94 & Hwy. 101, Exit 207
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
36    9815-514       Foristell            MO    I-70 & Route W, Exit 203
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
37    9766-512       Matthews             MO    I-55 & Hwy. 80, Exit 58
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
38    9826-516       Oak Grove            MO    I-70 & Route H, Exit 28
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                       24
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>   <C>            <C>                  <C>   <C>
39    9848-510       Meridian             MS    I-20 & I-59, Exit 160
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40    9722-512       Grand Island         NE    I-80, Exit 305
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
41    9775-510       Ogallala             NE    I-80, Exit 126
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
42    9854-512       Bloomsbury           NJ    I-78, Exit 7
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
43    000-6312       Albuquerque          NM    I-25 N., Candelaria Exit 227A
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
44    000-6322       Las Vegas            NV    I-15, Blue Diamond Exit 33
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
45    000-6375       Sparks               NV    I-80, Exit 19
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
46    9830-518       Pembroke             NY    I-90 & S.R. 77, Exit 48A
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
47    9764-531       Columbus             OH    I-70 & U.S. 42, Exit 79
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
48    9875-520       Hebron               OH    I-70 @ Ohio 37, Exit 126
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
49    9876-520       Jeffersonville       OH    I-71, Exit 65
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50    9869-514       Kingsville           OH    I-90, Exit 235
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
51    9799-510       North Canton         OH    I-77, Exit 111
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
52    9870-522       Seville              OH    I-71 & U.S. 224, Exit 209
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
53    9872-512       Toledo               OH    I-80 & I-280, Exit 71
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
54    9745-514       Youngstown           OH    I-80 & S.R. 46, Exit 223A
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
55    9827-510       Oklahoma City        OK    I-40 & Morgan, Exit 140
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
56    000-6309       Portland             OR    I-5, Exit 278
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
57    9825-515       North East           PA    I-90 & S.R. 20, Exit 12
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
58    9711-530       Manning              SC    I-95 & S.R. 261, Exit 119
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
59    9771-510       Denmark              TN    I-40 & Hwy. 138, Exit 68
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
60    9886-511       Franklin             TN    I-65, Exit 61
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
61    9895-510       Knoxville            TN    I-40 & I-75, Exit 369
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
62    9741-518       Nashville            TN    I-24, Exit 62
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
63    9851-511       Amarillo             TX    I-40 & Whitaker Road, Exit 74
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
64    9812-511       Denton               TX    I-35 & U.S. 77, Exit 471
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
65    9833-513       Rockwall             TX    I-30 & S.R. 205, Exit 68
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
66    9840-510       Sweetwater           TX    I-20 & Hopkins Road, Exit 242
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
67    000-6334       Tooele               UT    I-80 & Lakepoint, Exit 99
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
68    9717-541       Ashland              VA    I-95 & S.R. 802, Exit 89
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
69    9713-510       Wytheville           VA    I-77, Exit 41 I-81, Exit 72
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
70    9860-513       Hudson               WI    I-94 & U.S. 12, Exit 4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
71    9866-510       Madison              WI    I-90/I-94 & U.S. 51, Exit 132
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
72    9877-510       Hurricane            WV    I-64 & Rt. 34, Exit 39
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
73    9723-510       Martinsburg          WV    I-81 & S.R. 901, Exit 20
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                       25
<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT "B"

                               ESCROW FEE SCHEDULE

REVIEW AND ACCEPTANCE FEE:                                 $  500.00

For providing initial review of the Escrow Agreement and all supporting
documents and for initial services associated with establishing the account.
This is a one (1) time fee payable upon the opening of the account.

I.       FIRST YEAR ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE FEE              $  4000.00
         (or any portion of the year thereof)
         ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE FEE THEREAFTER              $  3000.00
         (or any portion of the year thereof)

II.      REMITTANCE OF CHECKS, WIRES, OR FUNDS MOVEMENT
         (in excess of 12 transactions per year)           $    25.00

III.     REMITTANCE OF INTERNATIONAL WIRES                 $    48.00     (each-
no allowance)

IV.      INVESTMENTS
         PURCHASE OR SALE OF SECURITIES                    $   100.00
         (excluding purchase or sale of sweep investment)
         or
         ANNUALIZED ADMINISTRATIVE SWEEP INVESTMENT        50 Basis Points

EXTRAORDINARY SERVICES:

For any services other than those covered by the aforementioned, a special per
hour charge will be made commensurate with the character of the service, time
required and responsibility involved. Such services include but are not limited
to excessive administrative time, attendance at closings, specialized reports,
and record keeping, unusual certifications, special delivery charges, postage,
etc.

It is understood by the parties that Escrow Agent will not provide any tax
withholding, reporting services, or 1099 processing for this Escrow Agreement or
beneficiary of funds thereof.

FEE SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO ANNUAL REVIEW AND ADJUSTMENT, OR AS TERMS OF THE
AGREEMENT MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME. THIS EXHIBIT IS INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE INTO THE ESCROW AGREEMENT.

                                       26
<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT "C"

                        FORM OF DISBURSEMENT INSTRUCTIONS
                            FROM T/A TO ESCROW AGENT

                             _______________, 200__

National City Bank
1900 East 9th Street
Cleveland, Ohio  44114
Attn: ________________

Re:      Escrow Agreement ("Agreement"), dated the ___ day of December, 2003, by
         and among NATIONAL CITY BANK, as escrow agent ("Escrow Agent"); UNION
         OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA, a California corporation ("Unocal"); and TA
         OPERATING CORPORATION d/b/a TravelCenters of America, a Delaware
         corporation headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, successor in interest by
         merger to NATIONAL AUTO/TRUCKSTOPS, INC., (hereinafter referred to as
         "NATIONAL"), and TravelCenters of America, Inc., a Delaware corporation
         headquartered in Westlake, Ohio (TravelCenters of America, Inc. and TA
         OPERATING CORPORATION are hereinafter referred to jointly and severally
         as "T/A").

Dear __________________:

The purpose of this letter is to provide you with the following disbursement
instructions (these "Instructions") in connection with the Agreement:

As described in Section 8 of the Agreement, you are hereby authorized and
directed to disburse to T/A the total amount of _______________ ($ __________),
which amount represents the total of all of the paid invoices listed on Schedule
1 hereto. Copies of the invoices listed on Schedule 1, and copies of the payment
checks disbursed to, the third-party contractors who have submitted

                                       27
<PAGE>

the invoices are also attached to these instructions, but you are not to be
concerned about such documents. A copy of these instructions, along with the
attachments hereto, is concurrently being sent to Unocal. The undersigned, on
behalf of T/A, hereby certify that all of such invoices have been paid. Please
reimburse such amount to T/A by _____________, 200__.

Each of the undersigned declares under penalties of perjury that the foregoing
is true and correct.

TA OPERATING CORPORATION            TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA, INC.
d/b/a TravelCenters of America
(successor in interest by merger to
NATIONAL AUTO/TRUCKSTOPS, INC.)

BY:___________________________              BY:_____________________________
______________________________                 _____________________________
         Name (printed)                                 (Name (printed)
   ___________________________               _______________________________
            (TITLE)                                        (TITLE)

                                       28
<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE 1
                        TO T/A DISBURSEMENT INSTRUCTIONS
                            LIST OF PAID CONTRACTORS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Contractor Name   Contractor Address   Amount Previously Disbursed to Contractor
---------------   ------------------   -----------------------------------------
<S>               <C>                  <C>
</TABLE>

                                       29
<PAGE>

                                  - EXHIBIT E -
                               LIST OF SOLD SITES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  SITE
#      SITE #                 CITY           ST                  ADDRESS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>   <C>              <C>                   <C>   <C>
1     9885-520         Tuscaloosa            AL    I-59 & U.S. 11 By-Pass
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2     9824-518         North Little Rock     AR    I-40 @ Galloway Interchange
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3     9712-519         West Memphis          AR    I-40, Exit 278 & I-55 @ 7th Street
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4     000-6302         Blythe                CA    I-10 @ Mesa Drive
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5     000-6204         Sacramento            CA    I-80 W. of I-5 @ W. El Camino Exit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6     9883-510         Ringgold              GA    I-75 & U.S. 41, Exit 139
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7     9710-510         Altoona               IA    I-80 @ Altoona Interchange
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8     9708-510         Walcott               IA    I-80 & Walcott Junction Road
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9     9861-511         Lemont                IL    I-55, Exit 267
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10    9798-510         Monee                 IL    I-57 & Monee Road
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11    9862-510         South Holland         IL    159th Street & Calumet Expressway
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12    9868-530         Troy                  IL    I-55/I-70 & S.R. 162
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13    9837-513         Solomon               KS    I-70 & S.R. 221, Solomon Exit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14    9839-513         Strafford             MO    I-44, Exit 88
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15    9852-512         Bartonsville          PA    I-80 & U.S. 611, Exit 48 North
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16    9818-531         Harrisburg            PA    I-81, Exit 27
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17    9727-510         Smithton              PA    I-70 & Smithton Road, Exit 23
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18    9810-523         Strattanville         PA    I-80 & S.R. 322, Exit 11
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19    9720-510         Columbia              SC    I-20 & U.S. 21
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20    9887-512         Lebanon               TN    I-40 & S.R. 109, Exit 232
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21    9858-510         Brookshire            TX    I-10 & F.M. 359
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22    000-6299         El Paso               TX    I-10 & Horizon Blvd.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23    9726-510         New Lisbon            WI    I-90/I-94 & S.R. 80
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24    9867-522         Oak Creek             WI    I-94 & Rt. 100
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                       30<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(c)

                                 BIG LOTS, INC.

                            SUPPLEMENTAL SAVINGS PLAN

                   AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF JANUARY 1, 2003

                         EFFECTIVE AS OF JANUARY 1, 1991

<PAGE>

                                 BIG LOTS, INC.
                            SUPPLEMENTAL SAVINGS PLAN

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----
<S>                                                                        <C>
PURPOSE - CONCEPT - EFFECTIVE DATE                                           4

ARTICLE I       PARTICIPATION

                Section 1.1 -    Eligibility                                 5
                Section 1.2 -    Conditions of Participation                 5
                Section 1.3 -    Election to Defer                           5
                Section 1.4 -    Company Matching Contributions              6
                Section 1.5 -    Deferred Accounts                           6
                Section 1.6 -    Statement of Accounts                       7

ARTICLE II      BENEFIT DISTRIBUTIONS FROM THE PLAN

                Section 2.1 -    Form of Distribution                        8
                Section 2.2 -    Acceleration of Benefit Payments            8
                Section 2.3 -    Withholding & Payroll Taxes                 8
                Section 2.4 -    Beneficiary Designation                     8

ARTICLE III     WITHDRAWALS

                Section 3.1 -    Hardship Withdrawals                        10
                Section 3.2 -    Withdrawal Procedures                       10

ARTICLE IV      COMMITTEE

                Section 4.1 -    Committee                                   11
                Section 4.2 -    Committee Procedures                        11

ARTICLE V       ADMINISTRATION

                Section 5.1 -    Administrative Powers and Duties            12
                Section 5.2 -    Expenses & Taxes                            12
                Section 5.3 -    Records                                     12
                Section 5.4 -    Determinations                              13
                Section 5.5 -    Legal Incompetency                          13
                Section 5.6 -    Action by the Company                       13
                Section 5.7 -    Exemption from Liability
                                 Indemnification                             13
                Section 5.8 -    Nonalienation of Benefits                   13
</TABLE>

                                       2

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
ARTICLE VI      INCLUSION & WITHDRAWAL OF EMPLOYERS

                Section 6.1 -    Inclusion of Employers                      15
                Section 6.2 -    Withdrawal of Employers                     15
                Section 6.3 -    Sale of Liquidation of Employers            15
                Section 6.4 -    Transfer Between Participating Employers    15

ARTICLE VII     MISCELLANEOUS

                Section 7.1 -    Employment and Other Rights                 16
                Section 7.2 -    Rights to Benefits                          16
                Section 7.3 -    Offsets to Benefits                         16
                Section 7.4 -    Amendment and Termination                   16
                Section 7.5 -    Change in Control                           17

ARTICLE VIII    DEFINITIONS

                Section 8.1 -    Beneficiary                                 18
                Section 8.2 -    Board                                       18
                Section 8.3 -    Change in Control                           18
                Section 8.4 -    Code                                        18
                Section 8.5 -    Company                                     18
                Section 8.6 -    Compensation                                18
                Section 8.7 -    Deferral Agreement                          18
                Section 8.8 -    Deferred Account(s)                         18
                Section 8.9 -    Employee                                    18
                Section 8.10 -   Employer or Employer                        19
                Section 8.11 -   Employer Securities                         19
                Section 8.12 -   ERISA                                       19
                Section 8.13 -   Highly Compensated Employee                 19
                Section 8.14 -   Matching Employer Contributions             19
                Section 8.15 -   Participant                                 19
                Section 8.16 -   Committee                                   19
                Section 8.17 -   Plan Year                                   19

ARTICLE IX      GENERAL PROVISIONS

                Section 9.1 -    ERISA Status                                20
                Section 9.2 -    Construction                                20
                Section 9.3 -    Controlling Law                             20
                Section 9.4 -    Effect on Invalidity of Provision           20

EXHIBIT A       JOINDER AGREEMENT & FORMS                                    21
</TABLE>

                                       3

<PAGE>

                                 BIG LOTS, INC.

                            SUPPLEMENTAL SAVINGS PLAN

PURPOSE

The purpose of this nonqualified deferred compensation plan is to promote the
success of BIG LOTS, INC. (the "Company") and any of its Affiliates that adopt
the plan, (now known as the Big Lots, Inc. Supplemental Savings Plan (the
"Plan")), by providing a means for certain highly compensated employees to defer
compensation.

CONCEPT

The Plan is designed to provide Participants with a supplemental vehicle through
which to defer compensation and related Matching Employer Contributions (if
applicable) in a manner substantially similar to deferrals made pursuant to
elections under the Company's tax-qualified 401(k) plan, as well as to defer
bonuses (if any) for the Plan Year that have not as yet been determined and paid
to the Participant.

The Plan is intended and designed to coordinate with the Company's tax-qualified
401(k) plan in a manner consistent with the intent of the Company as described
below. All contributions permitted by law and applicable regulations governing
the 401(k) plan shall be made and deferred to such 401(k) plan, and all
contributions deferred to this Plan shall be made (without regard to the
deferrals made with respect to the 401(k) plan) and shall be treated as an
unfunded contribution. In no event, however, may any Participant in this Plan
defer an aggregate amount of compensation in excess of one hundred percent
(100%) of the Participant's total compensation.

This Plan is a non-funded, supplemental executive deferred compensation plan
structured to benefit Participants in a manner that provides incentive to
improve profitability, competitiveness and growth of Big Lots, Inc. and its
Affiliates who are participating Employers in this Plan.

EFFECTIVE DATE

The Plan as evidenced by this document shall first become effective as of
January 1, 2003, and is an amendment and restatement of the Plan originally
effective as of January 1, 1991 and as last amended and restated on November 16,
1992, as amended from time to time.

The plan, originally known as the Consolidated Stores Corporation Supplemental
Savings Plan, has been amended to change the name of the Plan due to a change in
the name of the Company, as well as to make certain administrative changes;
namely, that this Plan is no longer coordinated with the Company's tax-qualified
401(k) plan by accepting contributions that are legally deemed to be in excess
of the limitations imposed under Sections 401(k), 402(g), and 415 of the
Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"); but, rather a separate and distinct
nonqualified deferred compensation plan that accepts contributions deemed in
excess of the tax-qualified 401(k) plan limitations described hereof.

                                       4

<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE I

                                  PARTICIPATION

SECTION 1.1 - ELIGIBILITY

Only those Associates of the Employer who are considered Highly Compensated
Employees, as that term is defined under Section 414(q) of the Code, as amended
from time to time, shall be eligible to participate in this Plan as of the first
date of employment with the Employer, but only to the extent participation in
this Plan is made available to said Associates by the Committee in its sole and
final discretion. Notwithstanding, all Associates who were eligible to
participate and who were participating in the Plan as of January 1, 2003 of this
amended and restated Plan shall to continue to participate in the Plan on and
after said date.

SECTION 1.2 - CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

An Associate shall not become a Participant herein until he or she furnishes
within a reasonable time limit established by the Committee, such completed and
executed elections, Beneficiary designations, consents and other documents and
information prescribed by the Committee. Each person upon becoming a Participant
shall be deemed conclusively, for all purposes, to have assented to the terms
and provisions of this Plan, and shall be bound thereby. Provided, however, that
certain restrictions shall apply to those Employees who constitute "Officers" or
"Directors" of Big Lots, Inc. within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), and attending regulations as adopted
and interpreted by the Securities and Exchange Commission as they relate to
investments (if any) in Employer Securities.

SECTION 1.3 - ELECTION TO DEFER

     (a) Except within the thirty (30)- day period following the date the Plan
         is initially extended to a Participant, the election to participate in
         and have Compensation deferred under the Plan must be made before the
         beginning of the period of service for which any Compensation upon
         which contributions to this Plan are based is earned. For purposes of
         this Plan, Compensation shall also include bonus amounts that may be
         attributable to service for the Employer prior to the effective date of
         said election by the Participant, but as not as yet determined and paid
         as of the effective date of said election.

     (b) For each subsequent Plan Year, a Participant may amend his or her
         existing elections, in writing in a new Deferral Agreement, prior to
         December 31 of such year, in a manner and to the extent to which the
         Participant's Compensation with respect to such subsequent Plan Year
         shall be deferred hereunder. An election by a Participant that has not
         been amended pursuant to this Section 1.3(b) shall be deemed to be a
         new election for the subsequent Plan Year.

     (c) A Participant who has made an effective election as to the deferral of
         Compensation for a Plan Year, may not change that election after the
         Plan Year has commenced; provided, however, that the deferral under any
         Deferral Agreement may be suspended or amended as provided in Section
         6.5.

     (d) The minimum annual amount which a Participant shall be eligible to
         elect to have deferred under this Plan for the Plan Year shall not be
         less than $1,000.

                                       5

<PAGE>

SECTION 1.4 - MATCHING COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS

Each participating Employer shall cause matching contributions to be credited to
a Participant's account under this Plan, to the extent determined by the Board
of Directors of the Company and in an amount as the Board, in its sole
discretion, determines to be appropriate. Employer Contributions, if any, shall
vest according to the same schedule to which they would vest for a Participant
under the provisions of the Company's tax-qualified 401(k) savings plan, namely:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years of Vesting Service                    Vested Percentage of
    At Termination                                 Account
------------------------                    --------------------
<S>                                         <C>
     Fewer than 2                                     0%
     2                                               25%
     3                                               50%
     4                                               75%
     5 or more                                      100%
</TABLE>

SECTION 1.5 - DEFERRED ACCOUNTS

All Compensation deferred under the Plan and any Matching Employer
Contributions, if any, shall be credited to the Participant's Deferred Account
in the same manner as though contributed as permissible salary deferrals or
matching contributions to the tax-qualified 401(k) plan. Separate Deferred
Accounts shall be created and maintained by the Committee for each Participant
to reflect the appropriate allocation of deferred Compensation and Employer
Matching Contributions to the accounts and investment funds maintained for the
Participant. Such accounts and investment funds shall be established solely for
recordkeeping purposes, shall not be required to be informally or formally
funded or held in specific investments or as separated assets and shall meet all
of the requirements of Section 6.2 hereof as pertinent to nonfunded,
nonqualified deferred compensation plans. Credits and charges shall be made to
the Deferred Accounts in the following manner.

The Committee may, for administrative purposes, establish unit values for one or
more Investment Funds (or any portion thereof) and maintain the accounts setting
forth each Participant's interest in such Investment Fund (or any portion
thereof) in terms of such units, all in accordance with such rules and
procedures that the Committee shall deem fair, equitable and administratively
feasible. A Participant's interest in an Investment Fund (or any portion
thereof) in the event unit account is established shall be determined by
multiplying the then value of a unit in said Investment Fund (or any portion
thereof) by the number of units then credited to the Participant's Deferred
Account.

To extent authorized by the Board of the Company, a Participant shall have the
authority to make investment elections with respect to such Deferrals and any
Matching Employer Contributions on behalf of and for the benefit of the Company
or participating Employer in a manner as prescribed by the Committee, including
but not limited to electronic and telephonic means. Such investment authority,
however, shall not give ownership rights to the Participant of his or her
Deferred Account(s), but said Deferred Account(s) shall continue to be owned and
held in the name of the Company or participating Employer and subject to
creditors' rights as described in Section 7.2 of this Plan.

                                       6

<PAGE>

SECTION 1.6 - STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

The Committee shall cause to be provided to each Participant (or Beneficiary as
applicable), as soon as practical after the close of each calendar quarter, a
statement in such form as the Company deems desirable, setting forth the current
Plan's Deferred Accounts in a manner similar to that provided in the Company's
tax-qualified 401(k) plan.

                                       7

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE II

                       BENEFIT DISTRIBUTIONS FROM THE PLAN

SECTION 2.1 - FORM OF DISTRIBUTION

Distributions from the Plan shall be administered and made in a single sum cash
settlement or in kind for all Participants in the Plan, provided that insiders
subject to Section 16 of the Investment Company Act of 1934, as amended, shall
receive their distribution in a manner that complies with the requirements of
the Investment Company Act of 1934. An election by the Participant as to the
form of distribution under this Plan shall be made not later than six (6) months
prior to the projected date of distribution. Any change by the Participant as to
the form of distribution shall not become effective for a period of six (6)
months from the date the Committee is notified of the Participant's intent as to
form of distribution. In no event, however, shall a distribution from this Plan
be made prior to the date the Participant's employment with the Company or a
Employer terminates (by retirement, death, or otherwise), except as provided in
Section 2.2 hereof.

SECTION 2.2 - ACCELERATION OF BENEFIT PAYMENTS

The Committee, with approval of the Board, hereby reserves the right to
accelerate the payment of distributions, without the consent of the Participant
or the Participant's Beneficiary(ies), estate or any other person or persons
claiming through or under the Participant. In making such determination, due
consideration my be given to the health, financial circumstances and family
obligations of the Participant or Beneficiary (ies), as applicable. In this
regard, the Participant (or applicable Beneficiary(ies)) may be consulted;
however, they shall have no voice in the decision reached. The determination of
the Committee shall be final and conclusive upon the Company, participating
Employer, the Participant and the Beneficiary(ies).

SECTION 2.3 - WITHHOLDING & PAYROLL TAXES

To the extent required by law in effect at the time benefit payments are made
hereunder, the applicable Employer shall withhold from payments made hereunder
any taxes required to be withheld from an employee's wages. Determinations by
the Committee as to withholding shall be binding on the Participant and
applicable Beneficiary(ies).

SECTION 2.4 - BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

Each Participant may from time to time designate any person or persons (who may
be designated contingently or successively and who may be an entity other than a
natural person) as their Beneficiary or Beneficiaries to whom Plan benefits are
paid if the Participant dies before receipt of all such benefits. Such
Beneficiary designation(s) shall not be subject to the surviving spouse
limitations/requirements applicable to tax-qualified retirement plans. Each
Beneficiary designation shall be filed in the written form prescribed by the
Committee and will be effective only when filed with the Committee during the
Participant's lifetime. Each written Beneficiary designation filed shall cancel
all Beneficiary designations previously filed with the Committee. A Participant
may revoke a Beneficiary designation only by filing with the Committee, during
the Participant's lifetime, either a superseding

                                       8

<PAGE>

Beneficiary designation, or such other writing in a form and manner prescribed
by the Committee. The revocation of a Beneficiary designation shall not require
the consent of the designated Beneficiary(ies).

If any Participant is not survived by a Beneficiary as designated above, any
death benefit payable hereunder shall be paid to the executor or administrator
of the Participant's estate.

A surviving Beneficiary of a Participant may designate a Beneficiary to whom
Plan benefits are to be paid if (i) the Beneficiary's death occurs before
receipt of all benefits otherwise payable, and (ii) without survival of a
secondary Beneficiary appointed by the Participant, or such secondary
Beneficiary has also died. If such a surviving Beneficiary dies before receiving
the entire death benefit and has not designated a Beneficiary (or such
Beneficiary has died), the remainder of such benefits shall be paid to the
executor or administrator of such Beneficiary's estate.

                                       9

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE III

                                   WITHDRAWALS

SECTION 3.1 - HARDSHIP WITHDRAWALS

Participants may elect to withdraw all or a part of their vested Deferred
Accounts but only for purposes of an unforeseen financial emergency that cannot
be satisfied through other means. "Unforeseen Financial Emergency" shall mean
those types of events that are not reasonably foreseeable, and are reasonably
unavoidable through taking other measures (i.e., medical emergency or natural
disaster). All such determinations shall be made by the Committee in its sole
and final discretion. Before any withdrawal for hardship may be made by any
Participant, the Participant must establish to the Committee's reasonable
satisfaction that liquidation of other assets or the exercise of other
alternatives are unavailable or insufficient to satisfy the emergency need.
Prior to any Hardship Withdrawal under the Plan, the Participant must first
exercise a Hardship Withdrawal under the Company's tax-qualified retirement
401(k) plan to the extent the Participant is a participant with an individual
account in said plan.

SECTION 3.2 - WITHDRAWAL PROCEDURES

The Committee shall from time to time adopt the necessary procedures to be
followed in the event a Participant seeks to elect a Hardship Withdrawal. All
procedures instituted by the Committee shall be binding upon the Participant.

                                       10

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                   COMMITTEE

SECTION 4.1 - COMMITTEE

The retirement committee of the Company's tax-qualified 401(k) plan shall be the
Committee of this Plan in accordance with the intention of the Board, as
expressed herein.

SECTION 4.2 - COMMITTEE PROCEDURES

A committee member who at any time hereunder is a Participant shall not have any
vote in any decision under the Plan made primarily with respect to such
committee member or such member's or administrator's benefits hereunder. In this
event, the decision shall be made by a majority of the committee member's or if
the Plan is administrated by one individual, then by the Board.

All actions of the Committee shall be by majority vote and may be taken with or
without a meeting. If taken without a meeting, the action shall be in writing
and signed by a majority of the members.

In the event of any disagreement among the Committee members at any time acting
hereunder and authorized to act with respect to any matter, the decision of the
majority of said Committee members shall be controlling and shall be binding and
conclusive upon the Committee, the Participants, and their Beneficiaries and
upon the respective successors, assigns, executors, administrators, heirs,
next-of-kin and distributees of all the foregoing.

Subject to the provisions of this Section 4.2, each additional and each
successor Committee member at any time acting hereunder shall have all of the
rights and powers (including discretionary rights and powers) and all of the
privileges and immunities hereby conferred upon the initial Committee members
hereunder, and all of the duties and obligation so imposed upon the initial
Committee members hereunder.

Except as otherwise may be required by any applicable law, no Committee member
at any time acting hereunder shall be required to give any bond or other
security for the faithful performance of duties as such Committee member.

                                       11

<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE V

                                 ADMINISTRATION

SECTION 5.1 - ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS AND DUTIES

The Board of Big Lots, Inc. shall designate such officer(s) of the Company to be
the authorized administrator of the Plan and to have the primary administrative
responsibility with respect to the Plan in coordination with and under the
direction of a Committee. The administrator shall serve at the pleasure of the
Board and the Committee and shall administer the Plan and all policy and
administrative functions shall be the full and total responsibility of the
administrator who shall perform said functions under the direction of the
Committee. The administrator shall interpret the provisions of the Plan where
necessary and may adopt procedures for the administration of the Plan that are
consistent with the provisions of the Plan.

The Committee may retain auditors, accountants, recordkeepers, legal counsel,
consultants and other counsel to assist in the administration of the Plan. Such
auditors, counsel, etc. may be persons acting in a similar capacity for the
Company or an Employer and may be associates of the Company or an Employer. The
opinion or any such counsel shall be full and complete authority and protection
in respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Committee or
administrator designated by the Board in good faith and in accordance with such
opinion.

SECTION 5.2 - EXPENSES & TAXES

The Company and/or applicable Employer shall pay the reasonable expenses
incurred by the Committee and others performing services relative to the
administration of the Plan, including the fees and compensation of the persons
referred to in Section 5.1.

And gains or losses attributable to the Deferred Account(s) of the Participants
shall be gains or losses attributable to the Company and shall be income to the
Company; provided, however, that any taxes paid by the Company, by reason of
inclusion of gains in income of the Company under this subparagraph, may at the
sole and final discretion of the Company be debited against the Participants'
Deferred Accounts in a fair and equitable manner as determined by the Committee.

SECTION 5.3 - RECORDS

The Company, applicable Employers and the Committee shall each keep such records
and shall each give reasonable notice to the other of such information, that
shall be proper, necessary or desirable to effectuate the purposes of the Plan,
including, without in any manner limiting the generality of the foregoing,
records and information with respect to deferral elections, Deferred Accounts,
dates of employment and terminations, and determinations made hereunder. In
addition, the Company, the Employer and the Committee shall be protected in
acting upon any notice or other communication purporting to be signed by any
person and reasonable believed to be genuine and accurate, including the
Participant's current mailing address.

                                       12

<PAGE>

SECTION 5.4 - DETERMINATIONS

All determinations hereunder made by the Company or the Committee shall be made
in the sole and absolute final discretion of the Company or of the Committee, as
the case may be.

In the event that any disputed matter shall arise hereunder, including, without
in any manner limiting the generality of the foregoing, any matter relating to
the eligibility of any person to participate, the participation of any person,
the amount payable to any person, and the applicability and the interpretation
of the provisions of the Plan, the decision of the Committee upon such matter
shall be binding and conclusive upon the Company, the Committee, the
Participant, and Beneficiary(ies) and their successors, assigns, heirs and
distributees of all the foregoing.

SECTION 5.5 - LEGAL INCOMPETENCY

The Committee may direct payment either directly to an incompetent or disabled
person, whether because of minority or mental or physical disability, or to the
guardian of such person, or to the person having custody, without further
liability on the part of the Company, Employer, Committee, or any person, for
the amounts of such payment to the person on whose account such payment is made.

SECTION 5.6 - ACTION BY THE COMPANY

Any action by the Company or applicable Employer under this Plan may be by
resolution of the Board of Directors, or by an person(s) duly authorized by
resolution of said Board to take such action(s).

SECTION 5.7 - EXEMPTION FROM LIABILITY/INDEMNIFICATION

The Committee shall be free from all liability, for acts, omissions and conduct,
and for the acts, omissions and conduct of duly appointed agents, in the
administration of the Plan, except for those acts or omissions and conduct
resulting from willful misconduct and gross negligence.

The Company shall indemnify the Committee and any other Associate, officer or
director of the company or applicable Employer against any claims, loss, damage,
expense and liability, by insurance or otherwise, reasonably incurred by the
individual in connection with any action or failure to act by reason or
membership on a committee or performance of an authorized duty or responsibility
for or on behalf of the Company or applicable Employer pursuant to the Plan
unless the same is judicially determined to be the result of the individual's
willful misconduct or gross negligence. Such indemnification by the Company
shall be made only to the extent such expense or liability is not payable to or
on behalf of such person under any liability insurance coverage. The foregoing
right to indemnification shall be in addition to any other rights to which any
such person may be entitled as a matter of law.

                                       13

<PAGE>

SECTION 5.8 - NONALIENATION OF BENEFITS

Except as otherwise provided by law, no benefit, payment or distribution under
the Plan shall be subject either to the claim or any creditor of a Participant
or Beneficiary(ies), or to attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or other
legal or equitable process, by any creditor of such person, and no such person
shall have any right to alienate, commute, anticipate or assign (either at law
or equity) all or any portion of any benefit, payment or distribution under this
Plan.

The Plan shall not in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts,
contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of any person entitled to benefits
hereunder.

In the event that any Participant's benefits are garnished or attached by order
of any court, the Committee may elect to bring an action for a declaratory
judgment in a court of competent jurisdiction to determine the proper recipient
of the benefits to be paid by the Plan. During the pendency of said action, any
benefits that become payable may be paid into the court as they become payable,
to be distributed by the court to the recipient as it deems proper at the close
of said action.

                                       14

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE VI

                      INCLUSION AND WITHDRAWAL OF EMPLOYERS

SECTION 6.1 - INCLUSION OF EMPLOYERS

Any Employer which is a Employer (as that term is defined in Section 414 of the
Code, as amended from time to time) and which is authorized by the Board of
Directors of Big Lots, Inc. to participate in the Plan as a Employer may elect
to participate by action of its own Board of Directors (or other managing body)
and by entering into a Joinder Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as
Exhibit A.

SECTION 6.2 - WITHDRAWAL OF EMPLOYERS

Big Lots, Inc. may, at any time in its sole discretion, determine to exclude any
Employer from the Plan. Any Employer may similarly elect to discontinue its
participation in this Plan at any time after the expiration of the sixty
(60)-day period immediately following the receipt of the Committee of the
Employer's written notice of its intent to so withdraw.

The exclusion or withdrawal of a participating Employer from the Plan shall not
adversely affect the administration of amounts already credited to the Deferred
Account(s) under the Plan of Participants employed by such Employer, with
respect to which amounts the Plan shall be continued until all such amounts
under the Plan have been paid by the Employer or otherwise liquidated under
applicable law or judicial judgment.

SECTION 6.3 - SALE OR LIQUIDATION OF EMPLOYERS

In the event Big Lots, Inc. should sell or otherwise directly or indirectly
dispose of sufficient interest in an Employer so that it no longer owns 50% of
such company, or an Employer is liquidated, Big Lots, Inc. shall assume and
guarantee payment of such Employer's remaining deferred compensation obligations
under this Plan.

SECTION 6.4 - TRANSFER BETWEEN PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS

In the event that a Participant's employment is transferred from one
participating Employer to another, the transfer shall not adversely affect the
administration of amounts then credited to the Deferred Account(s) of such
Participant on or as of the date of transfer and the Participant's prior
participating Employer shall remain obligated to pay such deferred benefits in
accordance with the provisions of the Plan in effect prior to the date of such
transfer. The Participant's new participating Employer shall become obligated
under the terms of the Plan to pay any deferred compensation amounts credited to
the Participant's Deferred Account(s) upon and after said date of transfer.

                                       15

<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE VII

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 7.1 - EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER RIGHTS

Nothing contained herein shall require Big Lots, Inc. or any Employer to
continue any Participant in its employ, or any Employer, nor does the Plan
create any rights of any Participant or Beneficiary or any obligations on the
part of the Company or any Employer other than those set forth herein. The
benefits payable under this Plan shall be independent of, and in addition to,
any other employment agreements that may exist from time to time concerning any
other Compensation or benefits payable by the Company.

SECTION 7.2 - RIGHT TO BENEFITS

The sole interest of each Participant and each Beneficiary under this Plan shall
be to receive the deferred Compensation benefits provided herein as and when the
same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof and
applicable elections hereunder and neither any Participant nor any Beneficiary
shall have any right, title or interest (legal or equitable) in or to any of the
specific property or assets of Big Lots, Inc. or any participating Employer. All
benefits hereunder shall be paid solely from the general assets of Big Lots,
Inc. or applicable Employer and no Employer shall maintain any separate fund or
other separated assets to provide any benefits hereunder. In no manner shall any
property or assets of Big Lots, Inc. or any Employer be deemed or construed
through any of the provisions of this Plan to be held in trust for the benefit
of any Participant or designated Beneficiary(ies) or to be collateral security
for the performance of the obligations imposed by this Plan on the Company or
any participating Employer. The rights of any Participant hereunder and any
Beneficiary of the Participant shall be solely those of an unfounded and
unsecured creditor in respect to the promise of the Company or any participating
Employer, as applicable, to pay benefits in the future.

SECTION 7.3 - OFFSETS TO BENEFITS

Nothwithstanding any provisions of the Plan to the contrary, the Company or any
Employer may, or the Committee may, in its sole and absolute final discretion
determine, offset any amounts to be paid to a Participant under the Plan against
any amounts which such Participant may owe to such Employer.

SECTION 7.4 - AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

While the Company and participating Employers intend to continue this Plan
indefinitely, the Plan may be amended, suspended or terminated at any time by
the Board of the Company; provided, that no such amendment, suspension or
termination shall adversely affect the administration of amounts already
credited to Deferred Accounts under the Plan, with respect to which amounts the
Plan shall continue until all deferred Compensation and applicable Matching
Employer Contributions (if any) credited to Deferred Accounts under the Plan
have been paid. In the event it should be determined for any reason by an
applicable agency of the federal government or by any court of competent
jurisdiction that the Plans does not satisfy the exclusions of Section 201(2),
Section 301(a)(3) and Section 401(a)(1) of ERISA, the Plan

                                       16

<PAGE>

shall be deemed terminated as of the date of such determination unless
alternative action by the Board of the Company is taken.

SECTION 7.5 - CHANGE IN CONTROL

In the event a "Change in Control" of the Company occurs, the Committee may
effect immediate lump sum payment of the Deferred Accounts (whether or not
vested) under the Plan to applicable Participants. For the purpose of this
Section, a "Change in Control" shall mean any of the following events:

(a) any person or group (as defined in Section 13 of Exchange Act) other than
    Company or any of its Employers becomes the beneficial owner of, or has the
    right to acquire (by contract, option, warrant, conversion of convertible
    securities or otherwise), twenty percent (20%) or more of the outstanding
    equity securities of BIG LOTS, INC. entitled to vote for the election of
    directors;

(b) a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company is replaced within any
    period of two (2) years or less by directors not approved by the majority of
    the directors of the Company in office at the beginning of such period, or a
    majority of the Board of Directors of the Company at any date consists of
    persons not so approved;

(c) the stockholders of the Company approve an agreement to merge or consolidate
    the Company with another company other than the Company or a Employer or an
    agreement to sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the
    assets to an entity other than the Company or a Employer thereof.

                                       17

<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this Plan, the following words and phrases shall have the
meanings indicated, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

SECTION 8.1 - ASSOCIATE

"Associate" means an individual who is currently employed by the Company or
Employer.

SECTION 8.2 - BENEFICIARY

"Beneficiary" means the person, persons, or entity designated by the Participant
to receive any benefits payable under the Plan pursuant to Article II.

SECTION 8.3 - BOARD

"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

SECTION 8.4 - CHANGE IN CONTROL

"Change in Control" means the change in control of the Company as described in
Section 7.5 of the Plan.

SECTION 8.5 - CODE

"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by time to time.

SECTION 8.6 - COMMITTEE

"Committee" means that person or persons appointed by the Company to represent
the Company in the administration of this Plan pursuant to the provisions of
Article IV.

SECTION 8.7 - COMPANY

"Company" means BIG LOTS, INC.

SECTION 8.8 - COMPENSATION

"Compensation" means the total remuneration paid to an individual (including but
not limited to bonuses) in a Plan Year.

SECTION 8.9 - DEFERRAL AGREEMENT

"Deferral Agreement" means an agreement filed by a Participant to effect
deferrals of Compensation hereunder.

                                       18

<PAGE>

SECTION 8.10 - DEFERRED ACCOUNT(s)

"Deferred Account(s)" means the accounts maintained by the Committee for each
Participant pursuant to Article I. Separate Deferred Accounts shall be
maintained for each Participant; however, more than one Deferred Account may be
maintained as necessary to reflect the nature of the account and various fund
allocations of the Participant. A Participant's Deferred Account(s) shall be
utilized solely as a device for the measurement and determination of the amounts
to be paid to or on behalf of a Participant pursuant to this Plan provided,
however, that such Deferred Account(s) shall not constitute or be treated as a
trust fund of any kind nor be deemed a funding arrangement under the Code or
ERISA.

SECTION 8.11 - EMPLOYER

"Employer" means the Company and/or a participating Employer or any successor to
the business thereof. For purposes of determining an Employer or Employer, the
rules of Section 414 of the Code shall govern.

SECTION 8.12 - EMPLOYER SECURITIES

"Employer Securities" means those securities (or common stock) of the Company as
currently traded on a nationally recognized stock exchange.

SECTION 8.13 - ERISA

"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

SECTION 8.14 - HIGHLY COMPENSATED EMPLOYEE

"Highly Compensated Employee" means an individual (as defined in Section 414(q)
of the Code) who is employed by the Company or Employer.

SECTION 8.15 - MATCHING EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS

"Matching Employer Contributions" means contributions (if any) made by the
Employer pursuant to the terms of this Plan. Any Matching Employer Contributions
shall be made at the sole and final discretion of the Board of the Company.

SECTION 8.16 - PARTICIPANT

"Participant" means any Highly Compensated Employee who becomes a participant
pursuant to Section 1.1 of this Plan and who then elects to participate in the
Plan as described in Article I.

SECTION 8.17 - PLAN YEAR

"Plan Year" means a full twelve (12)- month period beginning each January 1 (the
calendar year).

                                       19

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IX

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 9.1 - ERISA STATUS

This Plan shall constitute a plan, which is unfunded, and which is maintained
primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation benefits for a
group of Highly Compensated Associates of the Company or Employer.

SECTION 9.2 - CONSTRUCTION

In the construction of the Plan, the masculine shall include the feminine and
the singular shall include the plural in all cases where such meanings would be
appropriate.

SECTION 9.3 - CONTROLLING LAW

The law of the state of the Company's incorporation shall be the controlling
state law in all matters relating to the Plan and shall apply to the extent that
it is not preempted by the laws of the United States of America.

SECTION 9.4 - EFFECT OF INVALIDITY OF PROVISION

If any provision of this Plan is held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity
or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and this Plan
shall be construed and enforced as if such provision had not been included.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Plan has been executed on behalf of the Company by its
duly appointed officer this 26th day of March, 2004.

                                                                  BIG LOTS, INC.

                             By: /s/ Albert J. Bell
                                ------------------------------------------------
                             Title: Vice Chairman & Chief Administrative Officer

                                       20

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                                 BIG LOTS, INC.

                            SUPPLEMENTAL SAVINGS PLAN

THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), made as of this ____ day of ___________,20___,
between BIG LOTS, INC. (the "Company") and _____________________ ("Employer"):

                                   WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, Employer wishes to adopt the Plan for the benefit of certain of its
Highly Compensated Employees; and

WHEREAS , the Board of Directors of the Company has approved the execution of
this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.1 of the Plan;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

(a) Employer hereby adopts the Plan and all amendments now or hereafter made
    thereto and expressly covenants and agrees that, respecting any of its
    Associates who are eligible to become participants, it shall maintain such
    records as necessary under the Plan and shall pay according to the terms of
    the Plan all benefits accrued thereunder in respect to periods of employed
    with the Employer.

(b) The Company hereby consents to such adoption by the participating Employer,
    effective as of ____________________, 20____.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of this ______day of _________________, 20___.

                                                                  BIG LOTS, INC.

                                            BY:_________________________________

                                               _________________________________
                                                            EMPLOYER

                                            BY:_________________________________

                                       21

<PAGE>

                                 BIG LOTS, INC.

                            SUPPLEMENTAL SAVINGS PLAN

PARTICIPATION AND DEFERRAL AGREEMENT

I hereby elect to participate in the BIG LOTS, INC. Supplemental Savings Plan
(the "Plan") and agree to the terms and provisions of the Plan and shall be
bound thereby. I make the following elections and designations with respect to
my Plan participation for the calendar year ending December 31, 20___ and for
each calendar year thereafter:

(a) I elect, pursuant to Article I of the Plan, to defer receipt of compensation
    in the amount of $__________ or _____% (not to exceed 50% of my total
    remuneration) per pay period.

(b) I further elect that ____% of my bonus (not to exceed 100%), if any, for the
    20___ calendar year, and for each calendar year thereafter, be deferred to
    my Deferral Account. I understand that this election can only be made prior
    to the Company's determination of any bonus for the calendar year.

(c) I direct that distribution of amounts in the Plan effected through this
    election be payable to me in the form of

______ lump sum distribution
______ in kind distribution
______ combination of above as elected by me

I understand that the amounts deferred in accordance with my election hereunder,
will be administered on an unfounded basis by the Committee, and that my rights
and those of my Beneficiary(ies) shall be as those of an unsecured creditor of
BIG LOTS, INC. I acknowledge that the BIG LOTS, INC. Supplemental Savings
Committee (the "Committee") reserves the right to accelerate payment of deferred
amounts under the Plan.

I further understand that my right to designate investments for amounts deferred
do not in any way confer ownership rights to those deferred amounts; and, that
ownership of the amounts deferred remain with BIG LOTS, INC.

I hereby designate that my Deferral Account be invested in the following manner:

     _______________________  _____%     _______________________  _____%

     _______________________  _____%     _______________________  _____%

     _______________________  _____%     _______________________  _____%

     _______________________  _____%     _______________________  _____%

This Deferral Agreement and Beneficiary Designation set forth below is subject
to all the terms and conditions of the Plan, shall only become effective when it
has been approved and accepted by the Committee, and shall remain in effect with
respect to such Agreement and

                                       22

<PAGE>

Beneficiary Designation unless before the commencement of any such calendar
year, a new or amended Agreement and/or Designation is filed and accepted or the
elective effective through this form is canceled on a form approved by the
Committee.

BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

I hereby designate the following Beneficiary(ies) to receive any and all death
benefits to which they may be entitled under the terms of the Plan.

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

I hereby revoke any prior elections or designations under the BIG LOTS, INC.
Supplemental Savings Plan. I understand that the elections and designations
specified above shall remain in effect until and unless I effectively amend them
in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Committee or terminate may
participation in the Plan prior to the beginning of the applicable calendar
year.

Dated: __________________, 2____.               By:_____________________________

                                                ________________________________
                                                Print Name

________________________________________________________________________________

Committee Action:

The above Agreement, Investment Election, and Beneficiary Designation is:

( ) Approved and Accepted

( ) Not approved, for the following reason(s):

Dated:___________________, 2____.               By:_____________________________
                                                           Committee

                                       23

<PAGE>

                                 BIG LOTS, INC.

                            SUPPLEMENTAL SAVINGS PLAN

                       PARTICIPATION CANCELLATION ELECTION

Through an appropriate Deferred Agreement, I previously elected to defer receipt
of compensation through participation in the BIG LOTS, INC. Supplemental Savings
Plan.

I hereby elect to cancel any further deferrals through the Plan effective with
the 2____calendar year. I understand that this cancellation with become
effective with the January 1 of the calendar year immediately following the date
of this Participation Cancellation Election.

Dated: ________________________, 20___.        By: _____________________________

                                               _________________________________
                                               Print Name

Committee Acknowledgement:

The above Participation Cancellation Election has been received on this ______
day of __________________, 20___, effective for the 20____ calendar year.

                                               By:_____________________________
                                                           Committee

                                       24

<PAGE>

                                 BIG LOTS, INC.

                         BOARD OF DIRECTORS' RESOLUTIONS

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of BIG LOTS, INC. (the "Company") wishes to
promote the success of the Company and its affiliates; and

WHEREAS, the Board wishes and desires to provide a means for certain Highly
Compensated Employees to continue to defer compensation; and

WHEREAS, the Board currently maintains a nonqualified deferred compensation
arrangement that provides certain Highly Compensated Employees the means to
defer compensation, and wishes to make certain administrative changes to the
plan and to change the name of the plan to the Big Lots, Inc. Supplemental
Savings Plan;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT BIG LOTS, INC. does hereby amend and restate
its nonqualified deferred compensation arrangement (hereinafter to be referred
to as the "Big Lots, Inc. Supplemental Savings Plan), effective as of January 1,
2001, and to make certain administrative changes to the Plan;

FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Board of Directors of BIG LOTS, INC. shall in its sole
and final discretion continue to determine the eligibility requirements to be
met by certain Highly Compensated Employees to become participants in the
above-named plan;

FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Board of Directors shall delegate to its executive
officers the power and responsibility to take whatever action or actions are
deemed necessary and appropriate by them to carry out the purpose and intent of
these Resolutions.

Signed and dated this ____ day of _______________, 20__.

                                                                   BIG LOTS, INC

                                             BY:________________________________

                                            ITS:________________________________
                                                            (TITLE)

                                       25

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00064-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00064-of-00352.parquet"}]]