By Mike McClure
Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL), with 175 retail stores across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, celebrated the grand opening of its second Delaware store last Saturday in Seaford with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Rhode Island-based company also celebrated the opening of its Elkton, Md. store later that day.
“We’re hoping to continue the expansion here (in Delaware). Delaware communities have been so welcoming to us,” said OSJL Director of Communications Lynn Hall. “We’re thrilled to be part of the Seaford community. We’ve felt a warm welcome from our neighbors and city leadership, and we look forward to serving customers in western Sussex County with great values and strong community partnerships.”
Ocean State Job Lot held a ribbon cutting for its new store in Seaford last Saturday morning. The store, which opened last Monday, is the second OSJL store in Delaware and is one of 17 former Big Lots stores acquired by the company. OSJL representatives and employees were joined by city of Seaford elected officials, Director of Economic Development and Community Relations Trisha Newcomer, and Western Sussex Boys and GirlsClub representatives
The 36,000 sq. ft. store is one of 17 former Big Lots properties OSJL has acquired and revitalized this year. The Seaford store opened last Monday, becoming the second Delaware location following the opening of the Dover location.
Hall said the company saw that the Big Lots store in Seaford was successful and pursued its purchase.
“A few months ago that business was closing and our residents were concerned,” Seaford Mayor Matt MacCoy said. He credited the city’s employees for working with Ocean State Job Lot to make the store’s reopening a reality. MacCoy was joined at last weekend’s ceremony by Councilmen Orlando Holland, Alan Quillen, and Mike Bradley and Director of Economic Development and Community Relations Trisha Newcomer.
“The enthusiasm that you guys have is amazing,” Newcomer told representatives from Ocean State Job Lot.
The company presented a charitable donation of 250 backpacks, through its “Close to Our Heart” program, to the Western Sussex Boys and Girls Club. Executive Director Jermane Duncan and Lamyra Ross accepted the donation on behalf of the Boys and Girls Club.
Hall said OSJL asks its customer to give donations which is used to make donations to local organizations. This summer the store will have a buy a backpack and give a backpack program and later this year, it will have a program for veterans.
The Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation has a 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.
