Ollie’s Bargain Outlet planned

The shopping bargain soon will be alive and well in the Davis Shopping Center along East Pittsburgh Street in Greensburg. The former site of a PharMor deep discount drugstore is being renovated and by early March will hold the area's first Ollie's Bargain Outlet.

Haven't heard of Ollie's• It's understandable, because the 27-store Harrisburg-based chain only has ventured instate as far west as Johnstown since its inception some 21 years ago. However, Ollie's, which uses as its mantra "good stuff cheap," has spread throughout eastern and central Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware.

"We're currently in lease negotiations in the Butler area, the site of another former PharMor, and I would think we would like to open at least four to six stores in western Pennsylvania," said Jerry Altland, Ollie's vice president of stores and real estate. Greensburg fit the chain's criteria for success: At least 40,000 square feet of space, located on a well-travelled road.

The store concept is simple and not unlike a few other retailers: Scour the countryside for closeout, surplus, package changes, irregulars and salvage merchandise, buy it cheap and sell it the same way. All merchandise is at least 40 percent to 70 percent less than everyone else, Altland said.

The "stuff" often will include brand-name merchandise, such as Rubbermaid, Ekko, Coleman and Mattel. Ollie's also lives under its "30-day No Hard Time Guarantee," which states that if for any reason you are not satisfied with a purchase, take it and your sales receipt back to the store within 30 days for a full refund.

If you would like to become part of Ollie's team (there really is an Ollie; Oliver Rosenberg is one of the company's quartet of founders), the store will be holding a job fair for three days beginning tomorrow at the job site. Hours will be Thursday, noon to 8; Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 to 1 p.m. Fully staffed, the Ollie's will employ 30 full- and part-time people.