Business Beat: RI-based Ocean State Job Lot, acquires 15 Big Lots in region. Opening all soon.

All locations to re-open as Ocean State Job Lot stores by May/June 2025

Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL), headquartered in North Kingstown, RI, the region’s premier discount retail chain with 159 stores across the Northeast, announced that it is in the process of acquiring 15 Big Lots locations in eight states. Legal documentation is being finalized. OSJL plans to open up to 22 new stores this year, including the 15 former Big Lots locations and five to seven additional locations. The company’s growth in 2025 will add two new states, Maryland and Delaware, to OSJL’s geographic footprint.

The Big Lots locations, each slated to open by mid-summer 2025, are in Somers Point, Barnegat, and Cape May, NJ; Chester, Easton, and Elkton, MD; Dover and Seaford, DE; Harrisburg and Trexlertown, PA; Dansville and Liverpool, NY; Webster, MA; Morrisville, VT; and Auburn, ME. Store size ranges from 27,188 to 43,021 square feet and will offer OSJL’s signature bigger, brighter shopping experience.

“This is an exciting chapter for us,” said Marc Perlman, principal owner and CEO, Ocean State Job Lot.  “Expanding into new markets has long been part of our strategic plan, but like everything else we do, it needs to be done with value in mind. We look forward to introducing our unique brand, friendly service, and extraordinary savings to customers in each of these new communities.”

The acquisition of the Big Lots stores continues OSJL’s strategic repurposing of former retail sites. In 2024, the company opened stores in four former Christmas Tree Shops properties with a fifth and sixth slated to open in early 2025. Since 2019, OSJL has converted 12 former Toys R Us stores into Job Lot locations.

Jobs!

OSJL will hire for up to 70 positions in each store, including store leadership; supervisory; and full-time, part-time, and seasonal associates. The company offers competitive pay and benefits packages, including a best-in-class 30% store discount; flexible hours; medical, life, vision, and dental insurance, if eligible; profit participation; service awards; paid time off; 401K; and more. Current Big Lots associates will be offered positions.

Shoppers throughout the Northeast know Ocean State Job Lot for its Crazy Deals, Insider Club, fantastic prices, friendly customer service, and wide selection of first-quality name brands and closeout merchandise at unbelievable prices. Shoppers find an ever-changing array of household goods, apparel, pet supplies, seasonal products (such as lawn and garden essentials; holiday; patio, pool, and beach supplies; heating and cooling), kitchen pantry staples, and a broad offering of gourmet and international specialty foods.

About Ocean State Job Lot:

Founded in 1977, Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL) is a growing, privately held discount retail chain with 159 stores in New England, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, approximately 5,600 associates, and annual sales exceeding $850 million. OSJL Shoppers find an ever-changing array of brand name, first-quality merchandise at closeout prices, including household goods, apparel, pet supplies, seasonal products (holiday, gardening, patio, pool, and beach supplies), and kitchen pantry staples at a fraction of their typical price. The company was named a four-time “Best Employer” by Forbes® Magazine*, a four-time US Best Managed Company by Deloitte, one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Parents & Families 2024 by Newsweek, a three-time winner of the Inspiring Workplaces in North America Award, and a Global Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces winner. *Ocean State Job Lot is not affiliated with Forbes®.

The Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation has a long history of philanthropic leadership, supporting numerous causes, including feeding the hungry, helping the homeless, assisting veterans and military families, aiding animal rescue, caring for children, advancing healthcare, supporting the arts, and promoting learning. The Foundation’s operational, administrative, and overhead expenses are covered by Ocean State Job Lot, not the Foundation, ensuring that 100% of every dollar raised through the Foundation goes directly to helping those in need.

Ocean State Job Lot is headquartered in the Quonset Point Business Park at 375 Commerce Park Road, North Kingstown, RI 02852. Phone: (401) 295-2672; Website: OceanStateJobLot.com.