Ocean State Job Lot Opens New State College Area Location

A discount retail chain opened its first Centre County location on Friday.

Ocean State Job Lot is located in the 44,997-square-foot former Giant Food Stores location at 2222 E. College Ave. in College Township.

The store, which is the Rhode Island-based company’s 150th and seventh in Pennsylvania, is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. The store accepts Penn State’s LionCash among forms of payment.

“We’re looking forward to sharing Ocean State Job Lot’s unique shopping experience with our new neighbors in State College,” store team leader Adam Shore said in a news release.

A grand opening celebration will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 27, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a food truck, face painting, photo booth, games, giveaways. The company will also present a donation to the Lion’s Pantry food bank at Penn State during the ceremony.

Ocean State Job Lot offers a variety of departments — such as household items, decor, lawn and garden, outdoor recreation and furniture, home improvement, food and beverage, clothing and health and beauty — with “brand-name merchandise at closeout prices.”

The company purchased the entire 117,995-square-foot Nittany Commons shopping center on March 31. The center also houses Escape Artist, Get Air, Lendmark, Olde New York and Pep Boys and T Nails and Spa.

Ocean State State Job Lot’s new location in the center had been vacant since 2019, when Giant moved to the Hills Plaza on South Atherton Street.