CULLMAN, Ala. – Ollie’s Bargain Outlet is preparing to open in southwest Cullman, with leasing finalized and hiring underway for a store planned at the former Goody’s location in the Town Square Shopping Center.
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet has posted multiple job listings for its upcoming Cullman location, identifying the store as a “new store coming soon” and advertising management and sales positions tied to the Cullman, AL 35055 area.
On behalf of Drinkard Development, Jason Grimmett confirmed the lease has been executed and provided an anticipated opening window.
“On behalf of Drinkard Development I am pleased to confirm that we have executed a lease with Ollie’s to open in the former Goody’s location in the Town Square Shopping Center,” Grimmett said. “If all goes well, Ollie’s will be open in mid-April 2026.”
The new store will fill a void left by the closure of Big Lots, which shut down its Cullman location last year as part of a national liquidation.
“Ollie’s will fill a void left by the closure of Big Lots for discount shopping,” Grimmett said. “Ollie’s takes great pride in offering a wide range of value-oriented goods and at the lowest possible prices.”
Job postings on Ollie’s official careers website show the company is actively hiring for several roles, including a co-store manager, assistant store manager and retail sales associates.
The postings, dated Dec. 30 and Dec. 31, indicate preparations are underway ahead of the store’s opening. Postings can be found at https://tinyurl.com/yb3de47u.
According to the postings, the Cullman location is hiring both full-time management positions and part-time sales associates. Management roles focus on store operations, merchandising, staffing and financial oversight, while sales associate positions emphasize customer service, merchandising and register operations.
Grimmett said the Ollie’s customer base is expected to align closely with shoppers who previously frequented Big Lots.
“Everyone shops at Ollie’s,” he said. “However, it is expected that the average Big Lots customer will follow that trend of value shopping and become a loyal Ollie’s shopper.”
Grimmett said bringing Ollie’s to Cullman was a long-term effort by the Drinkard Development team.
“Getting Ollie’s to Cullman has been in the works by the Drinkard team for more than three years,” he said. “Having the right size building, the right timing and synergy all finally came together to make this deal happen.”
He said Drinkard Development’s relationship with Ollie’s has developed across multiple states.
“Our relationship with Ollie’s first started in Kentucky, then later in Tennessee and now we are pleased to open them in Alabama,” Grimmett said. “They will be a great community partner for Cullman.”
Grimmett also noted several product categories Ollie’s is known for nationwide.
“Ollie’s prides themselves on their book sales and the amount of rugs and carpets they offer,” he said.
What is Ollie’s Bargain Outlet?
Founded in 1982 in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet began as a single closeout store and has grown into one of the largest closeout retailers in the United States.
The company operates under the slogan “Good Stuff Cheap” and focuses on selling brand-name merchandise at deeply discounted prices.
Ollie’s business model centers on purchasing excess inventory, overstock and closeout merchandise from manufacturers and other retailers.
Because inventory changes frequently, each store offers a rotating selection of products that may include housewares, toys, books, food and candy, electronics, rugs and flooring, seasonal merchandise and home décor.
Unlike many national retailers, Ollie’s places an emphasis on in-store shopping rather than online sales, creating a value-driven “treasure hunt” experience for customers.
Before the Cullman store opens, local shoppers often travel to nearby Ollie’s locations.
The nearest stores include Jasper, located approximately 50 miles southwest of Cullman, and Albertville, located approximately 70 miles southeast of Cullman.
Additional Ollie’s locations operate farther away in cities such as Birmingham and Anniston, making the Cullman location a closer option for value-oriented shoppers in Cullman County and surrounding areas once it opens.
Why Ollie’s is expanding into former Big Lots locations
Ollie’s expansion into Cullman aligns with a broader national growth strategy centered on acquiring and repurposing former big-box retail spaces.
The company has outlined plans to open dozens of new stores nationwide through 2026, with a focus on locations that match its preferred footprint and customer base.
As part of that effort, Ollie’s has acquired a significant number of former Big Lots store leases following Big Lots’ bankruptcy and liquidation process.
Industry analysts have noted that former Big Lots locations are often well suited for Ollie’s stores due to building size, layout and established retail corridors.
This strategy allows Ollie’s to expand efficiently while bringing discount retail back into communities that lost similar stores.
Cullman’s Town Square Shopping Center fits that model, providing an existing retail structure and a market with demonstrated demand for value-oriented shopping.
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet is preparing to open in southwest Cullman, with a new store planned for the former Goody’s space at Town Square Shopping Center. Leasing has been finalized, and the retailer has begun posting jobs for the Cullman location, listing it as “coming soon” and advertising openings for store leadership and sales associates.
Developers say the target opening window is mid-April 2026, depending on construction and setup timelines. The arrival of Ollie’s is expected to restore a major discount-shopping option locally after Big Lots closed its Cullman store last year as part of a broader liquidation.
Ollie’s is a closeout retailer known for rotating, bargain-priced inventory, often featuring brand-name merchandise purchased from excess stock and overages. Shoppers can typically expect a “treasure hunt” style mix that may include housewares, toys, books, food and candy, rugs and flooring, electronics, seasonal items and home décor.
Hiring and early planning activity signals the project is moving forward as the space is prepared for opening.
