OLLIE’S BARGAIN OUTLET HIRES 50 EMPLOYEES FOR NEW LOCATION

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet

618-532-9401

1139 W. Broadway Ave, Centralia, IL

Roughly 50 candidates were selected last week by Ollie’s Bargain Outlet following a three-day job fair in the Centralia Chamber of Commerce conference room.

Melissa Taylor, store manager of Centralia’s new Ollie’s store, said approximately 75 people turned out for the job fair. The new hires returned to the chamber office this week for in-person video training.

“We’ve done this job fair to help us build up the store; to get the trucks unloaded and get the freight out on the floor, and to do some building that we need to get the products out for the customers,” Taylor explained. “We’ve had a really good turnout. It’s been great to see the people come out and support us.”

Taylor, who moved to Centralia in 2007, said she has a history with the new Ollie’s location, having been the former store manager of the building’s previous inhabitant, Big Lots.

Ollies, known as the country’s largest retail of “closeout” and “excess inventory” acquired several former Big Lots stores in 2018, and began reopening them under its own banner in 2025.

“I did work for the Big Lots store. I was the store manager there too,” said Taylor. “I have decided to go back into that building and rebuild it and bring something fresh to Centralia. I think it will help our town with workforce, for people trying to get employed, and bringing dollars into our community.”

Speaking about her store’s inventory, Taylor said no two Ollie’s locations will look exactly the same.

“It really does vary from town to town,” she said. “Some of the stores have ceiling fans, rugs, carpets, titles. My store sells lawn mowers. I think it someone hasn’t been to an Ollie’s; the Mt. Vernon store would be a great introduction.”

An opening date for the Centralia location has not yet been determined.