Don’t be misled by the name. Old Time Pottery has a lot more than just pots. In fact, the newly opened store in Cutler Ridge features more than 300,000 items.

Old Time Pottery occupies the former Builder’s Square building, located at 20811 S. Dixie Highway next to Cutler Ridge Mall. And while the store kept the "warehouse" style, it’s bright, clean and colorful. It is also very big, more than 107,000 square feet. Manager Barry Sillie said he lost more than 20 pounds getting ready for the grand opening in May.

Old Time Pottery is a new retail experience for South Florida. The company first branched out to Tamarac in Broward County in September 1998, but this is the first store of its kind in Miami-Dade County.

"We feature famous makers’ closeouts and overruns, enabling consumers to select first-quality merchandise at low, everyday prices," said Jack Peterson, Old Time Pottery’s president. "If you enjoy a shopping adventure that allows you to browse through wall-to-wall bargains, then you are going to love Old Time Pottery."

"What sets us apart is our friendly environment — this is a family-owned business — and the fact that you can have fun while you’re shopping," Sillie added.

The Cutler Ridge store features a wide selection of housewares, home decor items, craft supplies and gift items, including pictures and posters, prints and frames, a large dried floral and silk floral department, cookware, kitchen gadgets, linens, china and dish sets, patio furniture and cushions, lamps, plaster statues, baskets, closet organizers, candles, rugs, brass and crystal accessories, comforters and quilts, potpourri — and, yes, ceramic pots.

Some of the "famous maker" products include merchandise by Pfaltzgraff, Noritake, Johnson Brothers, Westpoint-Stevens, Martex, Dakotah, T-Fal, Oneida, Anchor Hocking, Rubbermaid, Libby Glass, Corning, Revere, and many others.

The floral department also features custom arrangements as well as "one of the largest selections of artificial flowers in this area, and a patio area with a large variety of artificial trees," Sillie said, "During our grand opening, the patio looked like a rainforest there were so many trees out there."

A recent transplant to Miami from New York, Sillie has more than 14 years of experience managing large warehouse-style stores such as Costco.

"My wife and kids and I love it here and everyone we’ve met has been very friendly," he said.

The store also has experienced an enthusiastic reception from local residents, with customers coming from as far away as Boynton Beach for the grand opening.

It also is giving the economy of south Miami-Dade County a boost. Of the store’s nearly 100 employees, more than three-quarters of them live in the Cutler Ridge, Perrine and South Dade areas.

"Our philosophy is to treat our customers the way we would like to be treated and to make shopping here an enjoyable experience," Sillie said.

Old Time Pottery is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. The store is open every day of the year except Christmas Day.