The empty storefront left by Walmart in East Wareham is empty no more.

Residents, along with a variety of special guests, flocked to the East Wareham store for the grand opening of Ocean State Job Lot Saturday. Among them were Congressman Bill Keating, State representatives Susan Williams Gifford and David Vieira, and Selectmen Patrick Tropeano and Stephen Holmes.

Ocean State Job Lot is a budget-priced retail store headquartered in Rhode Island. From one store in 1977, the chain has grown to operate 121 stores across eight states in the Northeast. The new location at 3005 Cranberry Hwy. is 43,000 square feet, and employs 55 people.

Tropeano said he hoped the arrival of Ocean State will help other businesses in the area thrive and "grow in the future."

"The interest has been phenomenal," said store manager Richard Hayes.

Though the grand opening ceremonies took place on March 12, the store has been open to the public since Feb. 29. So far, "it's been all positive," Hayes said.

David Sarlitto, Executive Director of Ocean State Job Lot, has been in the company for eight years and began the company's Charitable Foundation.

"It doesn't matter what community or state I'm in, every place has a food insecurity problem," said Sarlitto.

At the end of every year, the foundation hosts Thanksgiving and Christmas charity drives. The store asks customers to donate whatever they can and matches the donation. Ocean State Job Lot distributes food to more than 10,000 pantries, kitchens, and churches in the Northeast. All transportation and logistic costs are covered by the company.

The store fills a space left by Walmart in 2015, when the store relocated to a new supercenter along Cranberry Highway in West Wareham, closer to routes 495, 195, 28 and 25. The new location is also located near Wareham Crossing, where four other stores have moved from East Wareham.

A Cardi's furniture store is set to open next to Ocean State Job Lot soon, too.