A First Experience At Ollie’s

I have a pretty standard method of operation when it comes to new businesses that come to home sweet Lawton. After a new establishment has their big opening, unless it's a "need it right now" type of item, I'll wait a few weeks or months before hopping in. It has nothing to do with the kind of business a place may be, or waiting until they work out the inevitable new-store-kinks that every business in the world experiences in their early days... My hang up is people.

I've lived a lot of places and Lawton is pretty unique in this trend. It doesn't matter what business opens or where inside the city limits, the first few weeks or months after opening their doors, they typically stay shoulder-to-shoulder packed with local shoppers excited to shop/eat a new business. Even before the pandemic started a year ago, social distancing has been a staple for me my entire adult life, so I avoid the crowds as much as possible. It's been hard finding a good time to visit and experience Ollie's since their parking lot stays so full at all hours of the day. But, a coworker mentioned he needed to go over there and gave me the invite. It was the middle of the day, I figured there won't be many there, so I agreed to have at it. What a unique place it turned out to be.

Walking around that store is kind of fun. I felt like a masked Indiana Jones, walking the aisles, each new turn showcased an entirely different section of goods and I rediscovered brands that I thought were long gone. I bought a bunch of car care stuff branded as Simoniz. I didn't even know it was a real brand. I honestly thought it was the made-up for A Christmas Story when the father received car wax as a present. It was sort of neat. I walked in skipping the baskets because I didn't intend to purchase anything yet I walked to the register with two arms full of stuff because it was, in fact, good stuff cheap.

All in all, Ollie's seems like a great addition to Lawton. If you haven't been, go check it out. From what I hear, you never know what you'll find each week.