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Ocean State Job Lot has acquired 15 former Big Lots stores, the company said in a news release on Wednesday, Mar. 19. The acquisitions come after Big Lots filed for bankruptcy in September 2024.
The expansion will include Ocean State opening its first store in Delaware.
"This is an exciting chapter for us," said Ocean State CEO and principal owner Marc Perlman. "Expanding into new markets has long been part of our strategic plan, but like everything else we do, it needs to be done with value in mind. We look forward to introducing our unique brand, friendly service, and extraordinary savings to customers in each of these new communities."
Each store, ranging from 27,000 to 43,000 square feet, will feature Ocean State's signature bargain shopping experience. The company is hiring up to 70 employees per location and current Big Lots workers will be offered positions.
Here's a list of the Ocean State Job Lot stores opening in former Big Lots locations:
Delaware
- Dover
- Seaford
Maine
- Auburn
Maryland
- Chester
- Easton
- Elkton
Massachusetts
- Webster
New Jersey
- Barnegat
- Cape May
- Somers Point
New York
- Dansville
- Liverpool
Pennsylvania
- Harrisburg
- Trexlertown
Vermont
- Morrisville
All 15 Ocean State locations are expected to open in May or June.
The expansion continues Ocean State's trend of repurposing former retail spaces. Since 2019, the chain has converted 12 former Toys 'R' Us stores and multiple Christmas Tree Shops locations.
In December 2024, Variety Wholesalers purchased about 400 Big Lots stores and plans to keep them open under the same brand. Ollie's Bargain Outlet announced in late February that it has acquired at least 63 former Big Lots stores and will rebrand those as Ollie's locations.
Ocean State Job Lot has 159 stores across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.
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