Discount chain Ollie's Bargain Outlet is gearing up to open at Congress Crossing in Athens next Thursday, with doors set to swing open at 9 a.m. Once it officially launches, the store will keep daily hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and will stock closeout and overstock merchandise, including brand-name food, housewares, flooring, books, and clothing. City officials say the location quietly held a soft launch earlier this week while staff finished stocking shelves and wrapping up training ahead of the public grand opening.
According to the City of Athens, Tennessee, merchandise will be available for sale starting next Thursday, and the city notes that customers can save up to 70% off typical retail prices. The post lays out the product categories shoppers can expect and repeats the grand opening start time of 9 a.m.
Where It Sits and What Shoppers Will Find
Ollie's will take over a space at 1802 Decatur Pike in the Congress Crossing shopping center, putting it right next to the strip's Hobby Lobby. The LoopNet listing for Congress Crossing shows the 1802 Decatur Pike address, and Hobby Lobby lists its Athens craft store at 1800 Decatur Pike, confirming the side-by-side setup.
Jobs and Local Impact
Local job postings tied to the Athens store show openings for retail sales and management roles at the 1802 Decatur Pike address, signaling that Ollie's is staffing up ahead of the grand opening, according to Snagajob. The hiring push tracks with Ollie's typical rollout, which often brings a mix of seasonal and part-time positions to busy retail corridors.
Part of a National Expansion
The Athens debut plugs into Ollie's broader expansion strategy. The company has been touting new-state entries and store-count milestones in corporate news releases as it converts former big-box spaces into bargain outlets, per Ollie's. That growth has helped the chain add hundreds of stores nationwide in recent years.
Deal seekers who like the thrill of the hunt can head to Congress Crossing next Thursday at 9 a.m. for the full grand opening. The city's Facebook post includes photos and more details on what to expect, according to the City of Athens, Tennessee. Shoppers can look for the usual mix of deep discounts and surprise finds that keep Ollie's regulars coming back for another round.
