Ollie's Bargain Outlet — Local services in Manchester

I used to live in the Boston area and we had an outlet called Building 19 1/2 whose slogan was - good stuff cheap.

I was thrilled when in Georgia and came across an Ollie's whose slogan was also - good stuff cheap - and it seems to me the old outlet that closed many years ago had been revived.

There were a myriad of amazing deals and I was jealous as I live in CT. Imagine my surprise when I had a flyer in my mailbox a few months later. I had moved to a different town and I called my daughter and we went to check it out.

Ollie's is more organized than the previous outlet that I was used to - you don't have to dig through bins, employees are helpful and deals are down every aisle.

I recently was away and my sale paper was expired. Bernat yarn, usually $14 a skein full price- on sale for $5! I was sure it would be slim pickins but I was wrong - I ended up spending over $200 on books, personal items and lots of yarn! Yes, I bought all of 2 different design yarns and the cashier said - thank you for emptying that shelf so I can restock!

The quality is real, the deals are real and it's not just a gimmick to get you in the door for something they really only had 2 of -...

The old skate fantasy, the front doors are still the same for 70/80’s babies that remember!! Anyway, don’t go in with high expectations for the environment, but sign up on app or online for coupons and watch for deals. You have to focus on what you need or you’ll be disappointed and distracted by all the other junk. Think ocean state meets a tag sale at Lowe’s or Target.

The area: Also it’s in a complex next to a laundromat, furniture/rental, pawn shop, liquor store, & hookah lounge, and off a “bike path/ park” entrance so you do have homeless and others that seem to “live” in the area. On occasion I have been approached in the parking lot and near entrance/exit for money;pandering for money, but aren’t threatening in my experience, and are easily diffused. I mention it so that you are aware if you’re not familiar with the area.

I still give Ollie’s 5 stars because they often have a ton of great sales and I was even able to buy brand name flooring materials to finish a 3 season room for a fraction 1/3 of the price. Great books, seasonal outdoor/pool & patio...

Depending on what you’re looking for, this place is VERY hit-or-miss. To begin to uncover and utilize the possibility of treasures hidden within your local Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, you must first familiarize yourself with the TYPE of inventory that the store carries, or MAY carry. The gamut of merchandise is all over the place. They do carry napkins, but no toilet paper. So, throw logic out the window. Your best bet is to have a very general idea of what you want (ie. Shampoo or, a gift). This is NOT a store you enter looking for something specific (ie. certain brand). Back when Toys R Us went out of business, I was able to purchase GREAT toys and goodies at a MEGA discount. Back then, I bought my child an 8 foot long plush caterpillar (it’s like two body-pillows sown together, end-to end). We had seen it at Toys R Us for $50, at which point I had told child it was too expensive. One week later, at Ollie’s, we found the SAME caterpillar, for $10!! That was several years ago and child STILL sleeps with it...