This is my go-to OSJL. It was also my go-to Ames. So many times, as I stand in line to check out, I find myself remembering what the store looked like when it was an Ames. This is the nicest-looking OSJL in the immediate area. The one in Westfield (also a former Ames, if I remember) is so dumpy in comparison.

Thank you algorithm for blessing me with such unique travel videos lol

@fleabittenadventures

9 ай бұрын

I'm going to assume you aren't being sarcastic. Thanks for watching!

@Dieozam

9 ай бұрын

@@fleabittenadventures nope, totally genuine. Good stuff 👍

Our old Ames in NH also an Ocean State Job Lot. My mom worked at Ames from the 1980s until they closed in 2002 (and works at the OSJL since it opened a couple of years after Ames closed) I still remember most of the old layout. We did most of our shopping at Ames (employee discount) and my mom also often used the Layaway option for Christmas gifts. Many of my old Barbies came from Ames (I only have one left (actually two if counting Disney’s Pocahontas), as well as a couple of Barbie outfits. We still have some decorations and ornaments from Ames. I also recently found scotch tape from Ames when going through a bunch of stuff in the living room. My Space Maker pencil boxes also came from Ames (I miss Space Maker and am glad I still have three). We’ve found a couple of American Girl craft/book kits at our Ocean State, several years ago (we’re both adult American Girl doll collectors). I also found some Prismacolor products a few years ago and more recently a paint by number kit from Arteza. With one of the employee 40% off days, I was able to get a power massager.

Being from Connecticut, I love the videos you do! Keep it up, these historical informative videos about stuff local to me are really exciting and gives me nostalgia, whether it’s the abandoned places, mall videos, etc

Ames!! You just unlocked a childhood memory for me. 😂

Ocrean State carries the full line of Bob's Red Mill products, and all sorts of crazy imports that don't normally appear in American stores. Good prices on spices and coffee. Other things that never made it to mainstream grocery shelves. You can also score BIG with the Crazy Deal food. Buy $10 worth or more and get a store credit for what you spent. I found some really good iced tea there. Cleaned 'em out. My Ocean State was a smallish Stop,Shop Elsewhere that moved to larger quarters. I go in mainly for the food and cleaning supplies.

@GhostReaper2043

6 ай бұрын

yeah and get sick in the process or get severe food poisoning that lands you in the hospital no thanks

There's a place a lot like this here in Central Minnesota, but they even use former Ames carts. (At least I think so, red sticker covering each of the logos and the handles were sanded, but are the signature Ames green color.

I've taken a friend to the VA Medical Center in West Haven, CT a few times. Last time I was there, I noticed there was a Railroad Salvage on the same road. I was stunned. I remember the one in East Windsor, CT as a kid, but didn't think they existed anymore. I should try and make it into that store sometime. Railroad Salvage was the original Job Lot type store. All kinds of crap lol.

@jasonwebb5964

11 ай бұрын

It was open? The east Windsor one closed in the 90s I think.

We need to bring back Bradley's!

When I first saw the thumbnail I thought you might be in Palmer, MA. Same story that the Ames there shut down and became an Ocean State Job Lot. Like this one it still has the same layout as Ames did back in the day.

OSJL is my favorite store. I wouldn't call it a junk store. Building 19 was a junk store.

Heyo! Local Rhode Islander here! First off, I found your channel via the strangeness of the algorithm but I am glad I did. Second- Job Lot is something I have a liking towards, since it was one of the local chains I went to a lot growing up. Not as good as Benny's was, but it's still holding its own decently well. Always fun to see what kind of stuff is found in here.

Nostalgia love this channel

Unfortunately, our Ames became Christmas Tree Shop, which now sits empty, much like our JC Penneys. The closest Job Lot is 45 minutes away. Job Lot is a great go-to for k cups, as they carry a great selection, and Portuguese sweet bread, which I've seen at every Job Lot. Still waiting for Ollie's to come to Maine/New Hampshire. The only thing that bugs me about these videos is that Tom touches everything but apparently buys nothing. Damn, you've got a cart-put stuff in it!

@wintersprite

9 күн бұрын

While no NH, Springfield, VT has an Ollies.

It's an adventure to keep up with everything!

Thanks for all the Info. Our Ames turned into Ocean State Job Lot years ago. This year Best Buy near us closed, and Ocean State lot came in. That new store is humongous!!!

I never saw an Ames in Miami, Florida. Biggest competitors to Kmart here, were Zayres, and Jeffersons. All long gone now. Zayres was considered a cheaper version of Kmart. Jeffersons was very much like JC Penny. It was an anchor store in malls.

@CR7659

11 ай бұрын

When Zayre quit a lot of them became Ames stores. They did operate the Florida stores for at least a few years.

@kanna-san.

10 ай бұрын

Zayres later became what is now known as TJMaxx

@scottlawrence9008

3 ай бұрын

I don't believe Ames got that far down into the South. They were centered in the Northeast.

This looks very similar to the former Ames in Belfast, ME that Ocean State Job Lot took over. My parents loved Job Lot. The one that we went to oven Bangor, ME was an Ames as well (opened as a Rich’s) and it takes up a third of the building

Loved this place

Having moved away from RI in the mid 90s, I missed Ocean State Job Lot. But seeing your video, it's really no different than Big Lots, Ollies, and Bargain Hunt, which is what we have here in suburban Atlanta. But man, I miss Caldor; it was so much better than Target.

With my folks living up in the Grandville area i have a lot of memories of Ames, my dad actually used to rep for them( and bradlees and caldor). That said never been in this one, but in Bristol Ct the Ocean state was in an old stop and shop and man it looked like Mad Max stop snd shop. They traded with TJ maxx a few years back and now it looks like Mad max TJ Maxx instead.

Reminds me of olies in Pennsylvania

OMG DUDE IM FROM SOUTHWICK, MA!! What's your name? I graduated in 1989 SOUTHWICK High. So cool!! I actually worked my very first job at the Big Y next door when it was smaller and Brooks drug store was on the other side of Big Y. Wow, the memories.

@Randar1077

11 ай бұрын

Isn't it awesome to see something from Southwick represented?? I go to this OSJL on the regular.

@xzAllisonxz

11 ай бұрын

@@Randar1077 yes definitely is very cool.

Before it was an Ames, our store was a Zayre in the 70s / 80s which I remember being dragged to as a kid. Anyone remember Zayre?

@781Florist

11 ай бұрын

Before you go back to school go to ZAYRE You can learn the ABCs of saving there.... For less than you realize Everything from clothes to school supplies Before you go back to school (ba da da dum....) GO TO ZAYRE!

People have no idea how plain these stores used to be, Kmart kinda gives you an idea and Ames, Hills and many of the others like the local ones to me like Magic Mart and Maloney's Department stores were. Today those like Target and even Walmart work to look neat, updated and keep you coming back but i remember stores like Magic Mart had carpet in the clothing and soft goods departments and the rest were just plain and simple. I do miss those stores like Hills and Magic Mart tho, because you could find things there you couldn't find anywhere else. Also how I wish we had walk thru tours on video of those old stores.

The ames that was walking distance to my childhood home got turned into a church. They really chopped up the inside to make different aread for worship, youth group, child care, events and offices. You can still tell inside that it used to be a store tho.

We need a store like that here in Ohio!!!!!!!

Great video, OSJL is a very interesting company that has been aggressively expanding out of New England into NY and PA. Regarding the store lighting, I have not been to this particular location, however all locations at this point should have had an extensive visit from the electrical contractor that installed all completely new LED ceiling light bars throughout the entire store. Some locations this made a huge improvement in places that had its original store lighting that was impractical ( such as former Circuit City locations and Walmarts ). This believe it or not, this is a OSJL seen in better condition, the Salem NH store in a huge open and bright former Toys R Us is amazing looking compared to some locations such as the horrible Portsmouth/Newington NH location in a small circuit city that's a filthy cramped mess with rat traps set all over under shelves ( seriously ).

Oddly enough I spotted two upscale food brands: Tate's Bake Shop cookies and Silver Palate pasta sauces. Though, alas, the rest of the joint looked mediocre (I'm being *very* charitable), and also most of the shelves seem 20+ years old.

Just Googled Royale. Looks like they’re a Canadian company and there were real Persian kittens in Royale commercials in the 70s & 80s. Following those, the characters became minor celebrities in their own right.

Inside Reminds me of the southampton tractor supply

there’s actually another ocean state similar to this in springfield MA, it was previously a toys r us.

One Ocean State Job Lot in CT is in an old Ames and last I knew it still had the Ames registers and lights.

Someone told me Ocean State Job Lot is a cleaner version of Ollies. I went into the recently opened on in PA, and it seems to be true, Although, it was an awesome store to visit.

@fleabittenadventures

5 ай бұрын

Probably depends on the specific store. This one could use a good cleaning.

I would love checking out the weird foods here. Nice video 🙏

@fleabittenadventures

10 ай бұрын

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! I may do a video like that someday.

@GhostReaper2043

6 ай бұрын

But do not eat the food looks like a lot of it has expired but be my guess a get sick or worse go to the hospital

I worked at the Big Y next door for 5 years!

The AMES near me became an Ocean State Job Lot too

Yes, Ocean State Job Lot, or Odd Lot as the comedians say. Big fan. The local one is in a former Ames.

One of our Ocean State Job Lots (there are 2 here in my town) is a former K Mart, the other is a former Benny's.

I'm a canadian but visited the Ames in Malone NY

This looks like a mixture of an Ollies bargain outlet and Roses discount store interesting

If we are talking discounters, I prefer Ollies.

Where do I find 94th Birthday Cards?

the former Ames here in Cranston was torn down and now a Carmax sits on it.

The Ocean State Job Lot in Danbury by the mall is inside a former Toys R Us and Babies R Us

@0:48 oh noo Bradlees and Caldor did not feel like this store lol

Just wondering if you have been to Kmart in Holyoke? I think its closed.

Have you been to the one in Medway Mass?

The Ames is Naugatuck, CT became a Job Lot

For so many years I thought it was a job-seeking place😂

@wintersprite

9 күн бұрын

I think of it as sorta similar to Big Lots.

If you see it buy it! It may never be back!

Olies good stuff cheap

I think the furthest west OSJL goes is the Albany NY market and they're closing one store there.

It's this still open

Oh no watch out, The Human League is coming for their royalty!. Looks like a big store but never heard of them.

Ames Store bathroom clean

I would never never buy food in that place. It looks like a lot of it is expired and that store can get into a lot of trouble with the health department if someone ate food from here and died.

@wintersprite

9 күн бұрын

I haven’t had any problems with expiration at our Ocean State.

There is such a high turnover of merchandise.

Looks like a big store but never heard of them

Wonder if related Last name Ames

Northgate Ames

It reminds me of all these that's another type of junk store to I don't even bother with those type of stores

Oh no watch out, The Human League is coming for their royalty!

AMES is coming back

@redwingscuj031

11 ай бұрын

No it's not..that was all a hoax dude.

@jockofocker59

11 ай бұрын

@@redwingscuj031 lol ok well I fell for it

How is this place even a thing? Looks like a lower-grade Big Lots.

@scottcerra6324

7 ай бұрын

It's better than Big lots... Their merchandise changes by the week!