A new retailer is coming to east Belleville. What is Ollie’s, what will it have?
A sign for a new business recently joined those of Prime Storage, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Dollar Tree and Club Fitness on the pylon sign at Belleville’s Carlyle Plaza.
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, a Pennsylvania-based overstock and closeout merchandise retailer, is coming soon to Belleville.
The retail chain is seeking permits from the city to renovate the space at 110 Carlyle Plaza Drive, next to O’Reilly Auto Parts in what used to be a Schnucks grocery store, said to Cliff Cross, the city’s director of economic development, planning and zoning.
Cross said although work on the site is in its very early stages, the sign was put up to let people know it’s coming.
The store will have 29,109 square feet of space to provide all sorts of merchandise from household products to foods, toys and books to pet supplies, and much more.
A timeline for the store’s opening is not yet known.
Messages to Ollie’s Media Relations and Alex Apter of Location Commercial Real Estate, the developer for Carlyle Plaza, were not immediately returned.
“It’s great to see movement on the anchor portions” at Carlyle Plaza, said Cross, adding that it will be great to have a well-known store for the community.
What is Ollie’s?
According to its website, Ollie’s is “America’s largest retailer of closeout merchandise and excess inventory.”
It has more than 557 stores in 31 states, with more to come in 2025, the site says. The stores are similar to Big Lots.
Departments at Ollie’s include:
Heaters, Fans & ACs
Lawn & Garden
Patio
Deals For Your Home
Flooring, Rugs & Vacs
Bargain Bookland
Food & Candy
Health & Beauty
Cleaning
Kitchenware
Toys, Games & Puzzles
Hardware
Electronics
As Seen on TV
Pets
Sporting Goods
Automotive
Furniture
Stationery
Seasonal
The nearest metro-east location is at 3521 Nameoki Road in Granite City.
Hours at the Granite City store are listed online as 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Friday and 9 a.m to 10 p.m Saturday. For info, call 618-550-6108.
New Life at Carlyle Plaza
Ollie’s joins other anchor businesses Club Fitness, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Prime Storage and Dollar Tree.
O’Reilly Auto Parts opened a “mega store” this summer at the former Schnucks at 110 Carlyle Plaza Drive, moving from a previous location at 1000 Carlyle Ave. in Belleville.
Dollar Tree began a remodel of its location at 656 Carlyle Ave. in February, expanding into an adjoining suite and adding 5,900 square feet to the existing store. The store reopened in June.
About Ollie’s
Founded by Mark Butler, Mort Bernstein, Oliver “Ollie” Rosenberg and Harry Coverman, the first Ollie’s Bargain Outlet opened on July 29, 1982, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
Illinois became the 29th state to get an Ollie’s when the chain opened a store in West Frankfort in October 2021.
Distribution centers are located in York, Pennsylvania (opened February 2001), the Atlanta, Georgia, area (January 2014), Lancaster, Texas (February 2020), and a recently opened location in Princeton, Illinois.
For more information about Ollie’s, visit ollies.us.
This story was originally published December 9, 2024 at 5:30 AM with the headline "A new retailer is coming to east Belleville. What is Ollie’s, what will it have?."
