Ollie’s is now open at the Columbia East Marketplace at the intersection of US Route 1 and MD Route 175 and judging from the traffic in the store today, it is being well received. It somehow seems appropriate that a store such as Ollies is expanding during a recession. It’s like a dollar store on steroids.
Ollies certainly breathes new life into this long troubled retail center. Originally built in 1984 as an outlet mall, the 170,000 square foot retail center struggled over the years to retain tenants. In 1992 it was purchased at a foreclosure auction on the steps of the courthouse in Ellicott City by the owners of the Burlington Coat Factory. They sold the property to the current owners in January of 2005.
Glad to hear this. Living on the east side of 95, it's a little annoying sometimes to constantly have to cross 95 for everything. I'll have to remember to check this place out this weekend. Now if they can only do something about the insanely laid out parking lot. At least they're starting to finally fill in the potholes.
ReplyDeleteIt'll be interesting to see what happens with the Howard Square project. I'm not completely convinced that the area can support two retail areas.
Those stores were built in 1984? Wow. I always assumed that they were relatively new -- like maybe 2003 or 2004. There is a Peruvian chicken place being built around the corner from My Organic Market.
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