• Headquarters: North Kingstown, RI

• Founder: Mark & Allan Perlman, Roy Dubs

• Employees: 5,500+

• Stores: 150+

• Slogan: The end of high prices!

• Founded: 1977

• Website:  oceanstatejoblot.com

STORY:

Ocean State Job Lot started in 1977 as a single store operation in North Kingstown, RI. The idea was to sell brand name, first quality products at great prices. That was the idea 25 years ago and that’s still their goal today. Although they are known as a closeout company, they prefer to think of themselves as opportunistic merchants. The merchandise selection not only consists of a variety of manufacturer’s overruns, overstocks and packaging changes, but also includes many areas where their buyers have determined that “holes” exists in the marketplace. Ocean State is constantly on the hunt for opportunistic purchases where they can offer both great value and great prices at the same time.

Ocean State specializes in name-brand items in such categories as apparel, housewares and decor, pet supplies, electronic equipment, lawn and garden tools, stationery, specialty foods and sporting goods. The company was once ranked the 137th largest discount retailer in the US by Discount Store News. 

Northern New England:

The company made its first foray into northern New England when it opened a store in Peterborough, N.H. in late 2003. Ocean State now has 15 New Hampshire stores. Many stores have opened in former Ames stores in New England. New stores were also opened in Belfast and Bangor, Maine. The company opened a store in Portsmouth NH in a former Circuit City and another store opened in Sanford Maine in a former Walmart. A store also opened in a former Walmart in Seabrook NH. In 2018, OSJL opened in the former Shaw's in Biddeford Maine. A new store opened in part of the former Kmart in Rochester NH in 2019. In the fall of 2024, OSJL will open a new store in a former Christmas Tree Shops in Augusta, Maine.  The company took over 4 former Christmas Tree Shops locations so far. In 2024, Big Lots announced the closing of all remaining locations. This could be an opportunity for Ocean State Job Lot to take over some locations and expand. The company took over the former Big Lots in Auburn Maine and will open a store there.

Maine locations (9):

• Auburn (2025)

• Augusta

• Belfast

• Bangor

• Biddeford

• Falmouth

• Rockland

• Oxford

• Sanford

NH locations (15):

• Concord

• Derry

• Groveton

• Hooksett

• Meredith

• Milford

• Nashua

• Newport

• Ossipee

• Peterborough

• Portsmouth

• Rochester

• Seabrook

• Stratham

• Woodsville

• Walpole

VT locations (1):

• St. Johnsbury

Disclaimer: This site is not affiliated with the Ocean State Job Lot chain.  For the most up-to-date information about Ocean State Job Lot, visit their official website