And I've already been there three times.
I never heard of Ollie's stores until I was driving down Barrington Road, in Streamwood, and saw all the construction vehicles in the Westview Center, strip mall parking lot.
All I needed to see was the sign and the store's slogan: "Good stuff, cheap," and I was sold because I'm always looking for a bargain, especially these days.
Once I learned that Ollie's had opened for business, I skedaddled over and was instantly struck by how much "stuff" there was. But, that didn't deter me as I grabbed a cart and started making my way down the aisles.
I noticed that some of the shelves weren't completely full and that makes sense as this is a new location and most certainly, new stock is coming in every day.
Ollie's has a wide variety of goods, everything from home decor to grocery items, health and beauty, hardware, appliances, flooring, and more. They also have a sizeable collection of comics and bargain books.
As for brands, you'll find big names and some you've never heard of. As I'm constantly searching for quality bed sheets, I perused Ollie's assortment of linens and comforters and wasn't impressed until another shopper pointed out the Northern Lights brand of sheets. She told me that the quality is exceptional and that they're sold on QVC.
From her recommendation, I purchased a set of Northern Lights, all-cotton, 500-thread-count sheets in size Queen for $29.99 and so far, so good. They're thick and soft. The only caveat: They appear to be a "super-sized Queen," but I'd rather that than have them be skimpy.
I also purchased 100-watt LED lightbulbs for our large laundry room and they're a revelation for just $1.99 each. They've brightened up a room that was previously dim and hard to work in no matter what bulbs I used.
In the same location, a new Aldi is slated for a grand opening at the end of October, and it's right next door to Ollie's. That should breathe new life into the Westview Center strip mall.
Are you an Ollie's shopper? If so, what has been your experience?
Thanks for reading and please share this story on social media so that others can take advantage of Ollie's bargains, too.
© Sherry McGuinn, 2023. All Rights Reserved.
Sherry McGuinn is a longtime Chicago-area writer and award-winning screenwriter. She is currently pitching her newest screenplay, “The Month We Fell Apart,” a drama with dark, comedic overtones inspired by a true story, as well as “DEAD TIRED,” a female-driven, erotic thriller.
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