Ollie’s affordable outlet store opening two new San Antonio locations

The Pennsylvania-based bargain store that sells “Good Stuff Cheap” is opening two more San Antonio locations this week, bring more affordable, name-brand products to locals. On Thursday, November 2, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet is opening a store at Gateway Plaza near Lackland and another at the Woodlake Crossing shopping center between Kirby and Converse, according to an announcement from the store.

The Ollie’s near Lackland is located at 7171 W. U.S. Hwy 90, San Antonio, Texas 78227 where the old Alamo Marketplace Flea Market was located. The Flea Market closed sometime in April, according to a video posted by one of vendors on Facebook. The other Ollie’s is located at 7014 FM 78, San Antonio, Texas 78244 in an old Target. 

Both locations will open on November 2 at 9 a.m., according to the announcement. Ollie’s also has a location near Ingram Park Mall at 6161 Northwest Loop 410, San Antonio, Texas 78238. 

The bargain outlet was founded in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania in 9182 by Mark L. Butler and Mort Bernstein. The store now has over 500 stores across 30 states in the U.S. The store sells products from “closeouts, overstocks, package changes, manufacturer refurbished goods, and irregulars,” according to the website. 

The store has its own glossary, which defines “irregular” products as “didn’t quite meet the production standards of the manufacturer” like crooked stitches on clothes.

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. owns the company. It previously operated as Bargain Holdings, Inc. until March 2015. The brand was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet purchases its products directly from manufacturers and other retail outlets, including manufacturer overruns, overstocks, and packaging changes. The Ollie’s website says the company works with financial institutions to take over remaining stock when company liquidate. 

They are not. Ollie’s and Big Lots are separate businesses, with similar but different business models.