Photo: Melissa Byers
Update September 25, 2012: We got a special pre-opening peek inside of Ollie's Bargain Outlet. Let the shopping begin.
Books, toys, flooring, small kitchen appliances, food, personal care items, pet supplies, and seasonal items only begin to describe what the aisles of the former Piggly Wiggly hold.
Don't forget that tomorrow is the grand opening. And by the steady stream of cars asking if today was the big day is any indication of what the crowd will be like, it seems the employees will have a busy day.
Update September 21, 2012: The grand opening has been set for Wednesday, September 26, 2012 at 9 a.m. Joining the festivities will be NASCAR Sprint Cup star Kasey Kahne.
From their press release:
Folks should arrive plenty early for a chance to meet Kahne. Beginning at 7:30 a.m., 250 tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis (limit one per person). At 10 a.m., ticket holders will be able to meet and have their photo taken with Kahne, as well as have him autograph one piece of their own memorabilia.
“We are excited to expand in South Carolina and introduce ourselves to the wonderful people of Myrtle Beach area,” said Mark Butler, President and CEO of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet. “I couldn’t be prouder to have Kasey Kahne join our team at the grand opening. He’s a stand-up guy, a great friend, and a longtime partner of Ollie’s. This is a great opportunity for NASCAR fans to meet Kasey.”
Over the years, Kasey Kahne has earned recognition as one of NASCAR’s brightest stars. In 2005, he created the Kasey Kahne Foundation as a way to give back to chronically ill children and their families, as well as disadvantaged youth.
“Ollie’s Bargain Outlet has been a great supporter of me over the years, in racing and with the Kasey Kahne Foundation,” said Kahne. “I’m glad to have the opportunity to partner with Ollie’s, especially in Myrtle Beach with some of the greatest NASCAR fans. I have the best fans and anytime I can meet them face-to-face is a great day for me.”
Ollie’s generates about 50-60 new jobs for the local community with each new store it opens, ranging from cashiers to assistant managers. Ollie’s employs over 3,000 associates in its 127 stores across 13 states.
The store is located at 2100 Oakheart Road in Myrtle Beach at the Forest Square Shopping Center in Carolina Forest.
Update July 19, 2012: Our call to the company has been returned and it is confirmed! Ollie's Bargain Outlet is, indeed, coming to the former Piggly Wiggly location in Carolina Forest.
The grand opening is slated for late September. A subsequent Waccamaw Publishers article has additional details here.
First report: Rumor has it that Ollie's Bargain Outlet, a franchise specializing in "closeout, surplus, and salvage" merchandise, is coming to the former Piggly Wiggly location in Carolina Forest.
Construction activity has been spotted in the area and folks are buzzing. According to the "Who we are" section of their site, they have 122 "semi-lovely" stores, though Myrtle Beach is not yet listed on their list of stores soon to open. Ollie's already has a location in North Charleston and recently opened one in Wilmington just this Spring. You can see a full list of their locations here.
A call to the company has not been returned to confirm or deny. We'll update you as we learn more.
