For Immediate Release
Rural King, America’s Farm and Home Store, has finalized their plans for the mall and decided to move the Mattoon Rural King store location to the former Sears space to drive more traffic to the mall and other businesses in the area. The anticipated construction will begin in August 2018 and the company will be targeting the store to move in January 2019. The current facility, located at 4216 Dewitt Avenue, will continue to serve as a distribution center, and the headquarters will be expanded into the current Rural King store space.
Rural King planted its roots in Mattoon, IL in 1960, operating in several locations over time on the west side of Mattoon. In 1999, the company moved the store, office, and distribution center across the street to the current location, and this facility has had several additions as the company has grown. Now, they are one of the fastest growing family-owned companies in America and have added over 100 stores in a thirteen-state area.
This announcement comes on the heels of the of growing craft-beer restaurant, Scotty’s Brewhouse, agreeing to open in the Cross County Mall later this year as well. Rural King Realty, the real estate division of parent company, Rural King, has been working diligently to revitalize the mall after taking ownership in late 2017. The company reports to be in conversations with several other future tenants it hopes can keep the Mall a community destination.
Rural King Chief Executive Officer, Alex Melvin, stated “Rural King believes its future success is tied to the future success of the Mattoon community. The acquisition of the mall was a strategic commitment to this community, and we plan to continue to invest here in this area that has given us so much.”
The new Mattoon Rural King store will still provide customers with everything Rural King is famous for: free coffee, free popcorn, and the lowest prices every day on RK Tractors, livestock and pet supplies, tools, and more.
Until their move, make sure to continue visiting the Mattoon Rural King store at 4216 DeWitt Ave, on the west side of Mattoon, including the recently opened pet grooming salon inside the store, Country Critters.
