Opened on Nov. 28 at the Oviedo Mall, Crazy Hot Buys has quickly become one of the city’s most talked-about discount retailers. The store sells dramatically marked-down items that were returned by previous buyers, come from older collections, or carry small imperfections, with most products sourced from major companies like Amazon and Target.

What began as a bargain hunter’s destination has rapidly turned into a familiar stop for local teens. By hiring an increasing number of Oviedo High School students, Crazy Hot Buys is shaping the community.

Brenda Ojeda, social media manager for Crazy Hot Buys, shares why the new location opened in Oviedo.

“Oviedo has families, students, young professionals, it’s the perfect mix. Our audience is anyone who loves discovering a great deal,” Ojeda said. “We wanted a place like that, that feels alive and welcoming, where people from all walks of life can find value and excitement in what they buy.”

Ojeda’s philosophy has shaped the store’s atmosphere, transforming it into a shopping destination and a meeting point for people of all ages looking to explore unique and inexpensive products. Specifically, Crazy Hot Buys is becoming part of the daily lives of students, offering them their first work experience.

For Ojeda, working with Oviedo students has become one of the most rewarding aspects of running the business.

“It’s truly exciting to see so many young people joining the team,” Ojeda said. “Young team members bring energy, fresh ideas, and a real connection to our community. We want Crazy Hot Buys to be a place where students feel empowered, supported, and inspired to grow their skills, whether they stay with us long-term or take those lessons into other jobs or college.”

With many teenagers balancing part-time jobs, extracurriculars, and school responsibilities, Ojeda hopes the store offers a healthy work–life environment for them. She notes that students often learn quickly, adapt well to the fast-changing inventory, and help create the upbeat atmosphere customers notice the moment they walk in.

“I didn’t know about the store before, my friend told me about it, and I saw they’re hiring, so I decided to apply,” senior and store employee Christian Luster said.

Many students describe the work environment as energetic and welcoming, something that keeps the job enjoyable even on busy days.

“Everyone is very nice and helpful,” Luster said. “It’s a really cool place to work”

“I have a good relationship with my co-workers,” junior Victoria Lopez said. “They’re very chill and also very understanding about times where I can’t go into work when I’m out of the town. They’ve helped me a lot, especially since it’s my first job.”

Lopez had her first day of work on the store’s opening day, Nov. 28, which also happened to be Black Friday.

“We opened at five in the morning, so I had to wake up at four to get there on time. And oh my god, the moment we opened, people were literally running in,” Lopez said. “By ten a.m, hours after we’d opened, the store was still completely packed.”

Beyond its youth-driven workforce, Crazy Hot Buys continues to draw attention for the unusual range and quality of items found on its shelves. With daily shipments from major retailers, the store’s inventory is constantly changing, a feature that many students say is part of what makes shopping or working there so exciting.

“I saw at least three TVs… I saw Apple Watches, Apple Pens, and they were all $17. I saw, like, Nintendos, iPads… a lot of electronics,” Lopez said. “But something different, I would say, is that it’s never the same thing. They don’t have stacks of the same stuff, and you’re always going to see something different every time you go.”

Crazy Hot Buys has a unique store structure. All items are the same price each day, and the price progressively decreases throughout the week.
“I’ve seen very expensive stuff, like an Xbox and a whole fridge, selling for 20 bucks,” Luster said.

For Lopez, this dynamic is what sets the store apart, creating an environment that feels welcoming, friendly, and constantly full of new things.

Crazy Hot Buys has quickly become more than a discount store; it’s a stepping stone for students learning to balance work, school and real world responsibilities. As the shop continues to grow, so does its daily connection with customers, students from Oviedo, and beyond.