Soft Openings III: Out with Big Lots, in with Ollie's

Our next post takes us to another store we documented before the grand opening. Chances are you have already seen this place in its previous form.

Ollie's Bargain Outlet has replaced Big Lots #5248 at the Dutchtown Plaza in Palatine Bridge, NY.

As I will not be there for its grand opening, I have decided to document this store early. As noted, the store will have its grand opening on June 18th, the day after this post goes up. As OSJL and Ollie's are key players in the closeout arena here in the Northeast, they have ended up with the leases of various Big Lots stores that have closed months ago. Ollie's also ended up with Big Lots #5294 in Painted Post.

Cart Tax: As this is a newer store, it has these newer foreign-made carts.

I do not remember there being carpet in here when this was Big Lots, as it was not an SotF store. I have no idea why Ollie's put carpet in here.

Food items are on the right side, along the front wall. As Ollie's moved in fairly quickly, the store (fortunately) still has tile.

Registers along the front wall, similar to how Big Lots arranged their registers. Also there are fabric gazebos displayed along the front corridor.

Books, like many Ollie's stores, are located along the left wall.

Carpets and flooring are located in the back of the store. Also note that they did not remove the drop ceiling in this area to put in an open ceiling like they have done in the past. That is also due to them moving in quickly.

Looking back toward the front. Hardware can be seen here.

Look Inside: Tractor Supply Co. of Castleton-on-Hudson

Today's post takes us to a store with a hidden relic despite being repurposed. All photos were taken on May 25, 2025.

This building was previously home to Grand Union from 1977 to 2001, and sat vacant for a number of years before Tractor Supply repurposed the space around 2008. Around 2007 or so, it would lose its shingled Grand Union facade when the plaza's owners remodeled the whole plaza to get this exterior design.

Inside, we see that the lighting grid where the Grand Union registers used to be was retained, however the red embellishments were removed.

Humorously there is a red stripe across the wall, which ironically the Grand Union used to have one along the back wall. These stripes however, were done by Tractor Supply. Also, TSC kept Grand Union's drop ceiling (and possibly tube lighting), as this is an older store.

Cart Tax: Despite oddly having a set of Versacart V-Series 172L carts, they still had some of the original Rehrig Vista carts from when the store first opened. These are late-model ones with a metal end gate. None of them still have seat flaps and almost all of them are missing the rubber on the wheels, making them very loud and rattly. This one was also missing the backrest and seating platform.