Ollie’s Bargain Outlet plans Oct. 6 opening
More than 50 people are busy getting Uniontown’s newest discount store ready for an Oct. 6 opening. Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, which specializes in closeouts, overstocks, surplus, salvage and liquidations, will open in the former Ames store at Fayette Plaza on Route 51 in North Union Township. The company announced its plans in July.
“Steve Campbell is the manager,’ Natalie Kinsinger, Ollie’s advertising manager, said.
“There are 45-50 people working there. They are getting ready for opening. We had a job fair at the end of August but I’m not sure how many people showed up. I would guess a lot,’ she said.
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet operates more than 30 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware.
The Harrisburg-based privately-held company, founded by Mort Bernstein and Mark Butler, opened its first store in Mechanicsburg in 1982. Butler is Ollie’s president and CEO while Bernstein is the company’s chairman. Kevin Phillips is chief operating officer.
The 22-year-old company focuses on selling products at “drastically reduced prices,’ in categories including books, domestics, housewares, carpeting, toys and hardware. It also handles seasonal merchandise including lawn and garden products, patio furniture and Christmas items.
Ollie’s, whose slogan is “Good stuff cheap everyday,’ features a no-frills environment. Signs that cover the walls feature slice of life humor and generally make fun of themselves, Kinsinger said.
“Ollie’s most famous feature is its advertising method. All ads appear in a handwritten, cartoon-type fashion with often the cartoon poking fun at a current event covering half the ad space,’ she added.
Another feature the store offers is its Ollie’s Army, a “cheap rendition of a frequent buyers club.’
Members can earn discounts on future purchases and get special invitations to sales and other events. Ollie’s Army, Kinsinger said, “is approaching half a million members.’
Many brand name goods can be found, including Rubbermaid, Mirro, Ekco, Anchor Hocking, Igloo, Coleman and Mattel.
“Ollie’s buyers scour the world looking for closeouts, overruns, package changes, manufacturer refurbs and irregulars,’ the company said.
“Much of the merchandise comes direct from the finest manufacturers in the country and abroad. For instance, if a manufacturer makes too much of an item, or changes their packaging, Ollie’s will buy the discontinued or overstock items.
“We also work with insurance companies to buy salvage merchandise. If a store in your neighborhood has a fire, Ollie’s may purchase the inventory and put it in our stores at drastically reduced prices.
“Ollie’s has also liquidated major retail centers, working very closely with financial institutions. When companies liquidate, the bank that financed will often dispose of the remaining inventory and turn it in to cash. Ollie’s brings the goods back to our stores, or runs the liquidation on site,’ the company said.
The company also has new store openings planned for Indiana and New Castle.
Ollie’s will join other stores in the shopping center, Robert Glimcher, president of the Glimcher Group Inc., which owns the plaza, said.
Ollie’s, he added, “will take about half of the store.’
He said Glimcher Group is “working with some other potential tenants. I can’t say anything at this time because we don’t release the names (of new tenants) until we have finalized deals.’
Ames closed its store at Fayette Plaza when the company went bankrupt in 2002. It was one of the anchors at the shopping center. The other, Dunham’s, last year moved to Uniontown Mall.
Remaining tenants include Hollywood Video, Dollar General, Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts, Pennsylvania Wine and Spirits store, Colortyme and Cash Advance. Giant Eagle has a free-standing store south of the plaza. There is also a smaller strip building near Route 51 that houses CellularOne, God’s Footprints, Davidson’s Beauty Systems and Subway.
Ames leased the store after buying 155 Hills Co. stores in December 1998.
Hills Co. had been a long-time anchor at the shopping center.