Hartford bargain hunters will have a new off-price shopping option when Ollie’s Bargain Outlet opens its second Connecticut location in Manchester on Wednesday, June 1.
With a tag line of “good stuff cheap,” the chain sells brand name merchandise, including housewares, books, hardware, flooring, lawn and garden, electronics and non-perishable foods at deep discount.
“Our prices are 20 to 70 percent off fancy store prices,” says Jerry Altland, Ollie’s vice president of real estate.
Because the company specializes in a changing mix of closeouts, overruns, surplus and past-season items, stores offer a treasure-hunt shopping experience, says Altland.
“You never know what you’re going to find. One day, we might have an item, then the next day, we don’t,” says Altland. “If you see it, you should buy it, because we may never have it again.”
Operating more than 200 stores across the country, the Pennsylvania-based chain opened its first Connecticut outlet in Waterbury in November. The Manchester location will occupy a 30,000-square-foot space in a shopping center at 381 Broad St..
Altland says that while Ollie’s is often compared to other off-price shopping chains, such as Big Lots and Ocean State Job Lot, the stores offer a different range of merchandise.
“We have departments that others don’t, such as floor coverings and books,” says Altland.
The grand opening flier features such buys as a 50-inch, factory-reconditioned Element Electronics HDTV for $299.99; first-quality men’s Fruit of the Loom pocket T-shirts for $1.99 and 100 percent cotton, 400 thread-count, king- or queen-sized sheet sets for $19.99. (All specials are “while supplies last.”)
The company calls its customer-loyalty program “Ollie’s Army.” Members earn points for each dollar spent and get special discounts and invites to exclusive events. Purchases, accompanied by sales slips, can be returned for any reason within 30 days.
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet opens Wednesday, June 1, at 9 a.m. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. A grand opening celebration will feature Baseball Hall of Fame member and former Red Sox player Jim Rice. Tickets for autographs, which will be distributed starting at 7:30 a.m., are limited to 250. The autograph session will begin at 10 a.m. Additional information: ollies.us
