1-21-2022 6:12pm

Ollie's announces opening date. What's an Ollie's?

Christian McKearney Editor

Olllie's Bargain Outlet, located next to Harbor Freight in the old Northside Piggly Wiggly shopping center, plans to opens its doors to the public on Feb. 23, according to a pair of signs in its storefront window.

A small army of employees and contractors flowed in and out of the building on Friday, as the store begins gearing up. The Milledgeville Ollie's will be the third in Middle Georgia, joining the ones in Dublin, Warner Robins and Macon.

Ollie's currently operates more than 400 stores in 28 states, with its first store in Mechanicsville, Pa., celebrating its 40th birthday this year. Ollie's logo is a cartoon headshot of a man resembling Albert Einstein and a middle school history teacher, while its motto is "GOOD STUFF CHEAP."

So, what can folks around Milledgeville expect to find once Ollie's opens up next month? Well, according to its website, "Ollie’s Bargain Outlet is one of America’s largest retailers of closeout merchandise and excess inventory. Our 431 'semi-lovely' stores sell merchandise of all descriptions and some beyond description. You’ll find real brands at real bargain prices in every department, from housewares to sporting goods to flooring and to food. Ollie’s buyers scour the world looking for closeouts, overstocks, package changes, manufacturer refurbished goods, and irregulars."

Added the website: "Much of the merchandise comes direct from the finest manufacturers in the country and abroad. For example, if a manufacturer makes too much of an item, or changes their packaging, Ollie’s will buy the overstocked or old packaged items. So, you will always find famous brand name products at Ollie’s, but a lot of them could be last year’s colors, patterns or packaging that traditional retailers won’t sell. Ollie’s has also worked very closely with financial institutions. When companies are liquidated, the banks will often sell remaining inventories and turn them into cash. Ollie’s will buy the goods back and pass the savings on to you, the customer."

Everything purchased at Ollies is covered by a 30-day "No Hard Time Guarantee," added the website, and "if for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your purchase – return it within 30 days for a full refund But ya gotta have your receipt."

Each Ollie's is separated into the following departments, according to its website:

Housewares & Home Textiles

Pots and pans and spatulas and other gadgets
Bed and bath items, like rugs, towels, sheets and more
Picture frames, paintings, clocks, lamps, and other stuff for your walls and end tables
Small appliances, like toasters, can openers, coffee makers, vacuums, etc.
Paper products, garbage bags, and food storage
Cleaning supplies, dish and hand soaps, laundry detergents and scrubbing pads
Brands like… Black & Decker, Farberware, Bissell, Glad, Rubbermaid, Springs, Sunbeam

Food

Canned goods
Breakfast items
Snack foods (chips, pretzels, snack bars, etc.)
Quick meals
Candy
Condiments, dressings, and spices
Brands like… Campbell’s, Herr’s, Hunts, Libby’s, Pepperidge Farm, Russell Stover

Flooring

Laminate wood flooring
Laminate vinyl flooring
Rugs, throw rugs, area rugs, accent rugs and runners
Carpet rolls and remnants
Brands like… Shaw, Pergo, Mohawk

Books & Stationary

Books – books for kids, cookbooks, DIY manuals, novels, coffee table books, and more!
Stationery and office supplies
Stuff for your hobbies, crafts and creativity (scrapbooking, paints, glue, scissors, etc.)
Brands like… Penguin, Random House, Simon & Schuster, Mega Brands, Crayola

Toys

Toys for ages 0 to 100!
Games and puzzles
Brands like… Mattel, Hasbro, Milton Bradley, Fisher Price, Playskool, Tonka, Bandai, Lionel, Jakks, Melissa & Doug

Home Improvement & Hardware

Indoor furniture like chairs, tables, lamps, bookcases, and mattresses
Hardware and tools (power tools AND hand tools!)
Paint and home repair supplies
Brands like… Coleman, 3M, Stanley, Sauder, Ameriwood, Symbol Mattress, Shur-line

Electronics

Smartphone and computer accessories like phone cases, headphones, keyboards, and speakers
Alarm clocks, tablets, and calculators
Battery chargers, wires, and adapters
Brands like… Magnavox, Philips, Roku, Westinghouse, Amana

Clothing & Luggage

Outer apparel
Athletic wear
Stuff for the traveling feet, like socks and slippers
Suitcases, luggage bags
Brands like… Fruit of the Loom, Hanes, Gildan, Walls, Russell, Mossy Oak

Lawn, Garden & Patio

Outdoor furniture like patio tables and chairs and tiki torches
Potting soil, fertilizers, grass seed, pesticides, and more
Hoses, shovels, and other lawn tools
Brands like… Scotts, Ortho, Weed Eater, Poulan

Health & Beauty Supplies

Hair, body and beauty aids, like shampoo and toothpaste and cosmetics
Gadgets like irons, hair dryers, and electric razors
Select baby items – we could have diapers, wipes, socks, bibs, bottles, etc.
Brands like… Vidal Sassoon, Remington, Revlon, Dial, Conair, SoftSoap, Johnson & Johnson, Bed Head

Sporting Goods

Sports and game equipment like baseball gloves, bike helmets, yard games, sleds, and more
Fishing and hunting gear
Brands like… Rawlings, Wilson, Spaulding, Franklin, Wham-O, Worth, Shakespeare, Zebco, Berkeley