Ollie’s Bargain Outlet coming to Manatee County

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet is coming to Manatee Town Centre, taking over a supermarket space that has been vacant eight years.

Neighboring tenants couldn’t be happier.

The shopping center, once anchored by a Sweetbay Supermarket, is located at 33rd Street East and State Road 70 East.

“Ollie’s Bargain Outlet is one of America’s largest retailers of closeouts, excess inventory and salvage merchandise. Our 244 ‘semi-lovely’ stores sell merchandise of all descriptions and some beyond description,” according to the company web site.

Ollie’s was founded in Mechanicsburg, Pa., on July 29, 1982. Florida stores are located in Pensacola, Avon Park, Kissimmee, Homosassa and Zephryhills. Scheduled to open May 31 are locations in Hudson and Palatka.

Information about when the Manatee County store would open was not available Wednesday, but a banner at the site encouraged prospective staff member to apply online at ollies.us.

On Wednesday, workers were preparing the former supermarket space for its new tenant.

“It’s a good thing for us. It will bring more traffic into the center,” said Justin Phillips, owner of Minuteman Press, who welcomed the news.

“This is an easy location for people to find. It’s a shame that this center went down,” Phillips said of the lagging fortunes in recent years of Manatee Town Centre.

Vickie Beremds, owner of the Recipe Box, a restaurant next door to Ollie’s, couldn’t help but smile.

“After that space being empty for eight years, this will be a big asset for the neighborhood and my store,” Beremds said. “I have known for a month they were coming. I learned about it from my landlord. They will be redoing the parking lot, too.”

Ollie’s offers merchandise ranging from housewares to sporting goods, flooring and food.

“Ollie’s buyers scour the world looking for closeouts, overstocks, package changes, manufacturer refurbished goods and irregulars,” according to the company web site.

The company also works with insurance companies to buy undamaged salvage merchandise and liquidates major retail centers.

All purchases carry a 30-day guarantee.

This story was originally published May 17, 2017 at 3:35 PM with the headline "Ollie’s Bargain Outlet coming to Manatee County."