The coronavirus pandemic isn't stopping Ollie's Bargain Outlet from opening April 15 in Corpus Christi.

The store, which specializes in discounted name brand merchandise, will be opening in the 47,000-square-foot former Toys 'R' Us space at 1220 Airline Road. The company will take special precautions to ensure customers' safety.

Ollie's is still able to open despite the crisis because it will sell essential items, such as hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies, which are highly needed right now, said Jerry Altland, vice president of real estate.

"We are proud to be able to provide the communities in our footprint with essential items during these difficult times," Altland said.

Ollie's will open at 8:45 a.m. April 15. Company officials are closely monitoring state and local guidelines and developments regarding the COVID-19 crisis.

"Typical grand openings for any retailer -- It's a mob of people, and the store is packed, elbow to elbow," Altland said. "That's not what we're going to do."

Here's what Ollie's is doing to keep its customers and associates safe:

Limit of 50 customers in the store at one time

50 shopping carts lined up outside cleaned and ready to use

Signs hung throughout the store and regular announcements to encourage social distancing

Tape marks on floor to keep customers distanced while waiting to checkout

Registers 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 open to help with social distancing

All touch points cleaned regularly, in line with CDC standards

Ollie’s will sell name brand essentials up to 70 percent off regular prices, including nonperishable food items, cleaning supplies, personal care items, hardware and automotive products.

"Everybody that's out of work would want to come to Ollie's because of the deep discounts that we give," Altland said. "People need to save $1 today."

Ollie's started in 1982 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The company has about 360 stores in 25 states. Corpus Christi's location will be its 10th store in Texas.

Ollie's owns the building, which has been vacant nearly two years since Toys 'R' Us closed all of its stores nationwide. This past fall, Spirit Halloween temporarily occupied the space located off Airline Road next to Boot Barn.

Ollie’s brings about 50-60 new jobs to the local community with each new store it opens, ranging from cashiers to assistant managers.

Ollie's is in the closeout business. If a manufacturer makes too much of a single item, or changes its packaging, Ollie’s will buy the overstocked or old-packaged items. Customers will find brand-name products, but a lot could be last year’s colors, patterns or packaging that traditional retailers won’t sell, according to the company's website.

Ollie’s has also liquidated major retail centers. When companies liquidate, the banks will often dispose of remaining inventories, which the chain will sell.

The store will have reduced hours during the pandemic. Monday through Saturday, the first hour the store is open will be allocated for elderly shoppers.

If you go

What: Ollie's first day of business

When: 8:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 15

Where: 1220 Airline Road.

Reduced hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday

Contact: 361-442-2215

Kathryn Cargo follows business openings and developments while reporting on impacts of the city government’s decisions.See our subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe.

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