The new Ollie’s store is set to open May 1.
Photo: Lee Burnett
By Lee Burnett
The nation’s largest retailer of closeout merchandise is coming to town, adding to Sanford’s draw as a bargain hunter’s mecca.
Ollie’s of Harrisburg, PA, is hiring now and plans to open in the old Marshalls store at the Center for Shopping on May 1. It will be Ollie’s first store in Maine.
The company says its entrance into Maine is part of a national strategy to expand its footprint from 32 eastern and midwestern states to the entire country within five years, according to company spokesman James Chopka.
“Ollie’s is growing rapidly … We’re opening 50 stores a year,” said Chopka.
Sanford is already home to two surplus goods retailers and two thrift stores. Ocean State Job Lot is right across Main Street and Marden’s is a half mile farther up Main Street. Other options for discount-minded shoppers are Threads of Hope, the Catholic Charities’ thrift store across the parking lot from Ollie’s, and His, Yours and Mine, on Cottage Street.
Ollie’s is by far the largest of them with 576 stores. Ocean State Job Lot owns 150 outlets from Pennsylvania to Maine and Marden’s owns 13 outlets in Maine.
The director of the Sanford Regional Economic Growth Council said he has no special insight into Ollie’s decision to come to Sanford, although he said it builds on the city’s cluster of discount stores.
“We’ve noticed people are coming here from out of town, out of state. We’re a destination for bargain shopping,” said Keith McBride. He said the growth council is seeking to capitalize on the situation by promoting entertainment and eatery options to extend shoppers’ visits.
The Ollie’s spokesman declined to discuss business conditions in Sanford but asserted that Ollie’s market clout enables it to offer bargains on a wide range of name brand merchandise.
“We’re always going to be the lowest price around,” Chopka said. “We carry a large number of departments in every store.”
One thrift store owner said the cluster of discount options in Sanford could “potentially” benefit all stores, although she wonders how things will shake out.
“What I would say first is, how’s that going to go with Marden’s and Ocean State so close?” asked Marcie Rogers, owner of His, Yours and Mine. “I don’t feel personally threatened. I do wish them the best.” She said her confidence is based on her store’s solid following. “We have a lot of good rapport with customers and word on the street. Our store is very nice, very clean, and our prices are good.”
Ollie’s plans to employ 50 people at the Sanford store.
The post There’s a New Discount Store in Town appeared first on Sanford Springvale News.
