Ollie's plans grand opening in Allegheny Township — 1st in A-K Valley
Matt Cevario of Hyde Park was ready for some bargain shopping Monday, but he’ll have to wait a few weeks.
Cevario stood near the entrance to the new Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, checking out the employees bustling about, in anticipation of the store’s grand opening scheduled for Oct. 25.
“It’s exciting to have one here. I thought it was open, with the sign up and everything,” Cevario said of the new business in the former Big K location at Hyde Park Plaza in Allegheny Township. “Ollie’s has a variety of things, and it kind of reminds me of a Big Lots.”
Ollie’s manager, Ian McPherson, grew up in the Alle-Kiski Valley and resides a few miles away in Vandergrift.
McPherson said Cevario is just one of many customers walking up to the storefront ready to shop.
“It’s nonstop,” McPherson said. “Customers are so excited, and they think we’re open.”
With the slogan of “Good Stuff Cheap,” Ollie’s is the largest retailer of excess inventory and closeout merchandise.
“Goods sold include hardware, housewares, automotive, kitchen, toys, food items, books, clothing, bed and bath and it’s random stuff, whatever we get at a good price,” McPherson said.
The inventory is always changing, and no manufacturers’ coupons or EBT, SNAP or food stamps are accepted.
The regional chain is based in Harrisburg and operates more than 500 stores nationwide. The next closest Ollie’s to the Alle-Kiski Valley are in Shaler and Monroeville.
Founded in 1982, Ollie’s gets its merchandise from wholesalers, manufacturers and other retailers who are getting rid of products because they were discontinued, overstocked or for other reasons.
Ollie’s is hiring staff members and will celebrate its grand opening at 9 a.m. Oct. 25.
“We’re expecting an awesome turnout. I’m hoping to exceed sales like never seen before,” McPherson said.
The plaza is owned by Pittsburgh-area developer Jeff Paul.
Ollie’s will occupy more than 30,000 square feet in the former Kmart space, built in 1981. The Dollar Tree next door to Ollie’s opened in September.
All exterior renovations to the plaza are expected to be completed by the end of the year, and two more to-be-announced stores are still on tap for the plaza.
“It revitalized the area, and the community can feel good about this because the old Big K was dormant for so long,” McPherson said.
The Allegheny Township Ollie’s will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, with shorter hours on Sundays.
Cevario said he’s happy to see progress in the rural township.
“We missed the Kmart. That was the place to shop when we were younger but it closed,” he said. “It was vacant, and it’s nice for the community to have another plaza to enjoy. It’s nice to see the empty storefronts gone and being remodeled and filled.”
The store’s grand opening will include an appearance by the Ollie’s mascot, a nod to the store’s namesake, co-founder Ollie Rosenberg.
“Come see it in person,” McPherson said. “It’s good stuff, cheap.”
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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