Rural King to open new store in former Anderson Mall Sears

The next occupant of one of the most prominent retail spaces in Anderson County has an eye on aggressive growth across the Southeast.

Rural King plans to fill theAnderson Mall space vacated by the floundering Sears, Roebuck & Co. in 2019, according to a social media post by McCoy Wright Commercial Real Estate. The promise of a robust new retailer is a harbinger of hope to a mall that faces the typical challenges of the modern mall, where Sears left a gaping hole 3101 N. Main St.

The McCoy Wright Instagram post congratulated Rich Bennett, senior vice president of the Anderson-based firm, for securing the deal.

Anderson will be the second location for Rural King, which describes itself as a retailer dedicated to the rural lifestyle. The company’s first store in the Palmetto State was announced in October, also at a former Sears location at WestGate Mall in Spartanburg. Anderson may not be the company’s last in South Carolina.

The company’s website says Rural King intends to open 15 stores per year, with Georgia and the Carolinas being among the high-interest states. Since the first of August, Rural King has opened two stores in Kentucky and one each in Pennsylvania, Mississippi and Maryland.

The company, which claims to be the country’s largest privately owned farm and home retail store, kicked off its 65^th anniversary celebration in August.

“What began in 1960 as a single store founded by farmers Kermit Speer and Keith Beaird has grown into a trusted retailer with more than 140 locations across 14 states,” Rural King said in a news release. “The company prides itself on supporting its loyal and growing customer base by providing a great experience that starts with free popcorn and coffee while they shop for quality products at a great price.”

Retail offerings include items typically found at a tractor equipment supplier, hardware store and sporting goods retailer.

“My great-uncle Kermit and his partner Keith started Rural King with a passion to serve a great agricultural community that lacked access to the supplies they needed to run their family farms,” Alex Melvin, owner and chairman of Rural King, said in a news release about the company’s anniversary. “Kermit loved the community, and he wanted nothing more than to serve them well so they could live the rural lifestyle he appreciated so much. I grew up in Rural King with my family, helping at our stores and ensuring that our customers got what they needed, when they needed it. I’m blessed to help carry on the legacy of this great company, which supports the rural lifestyle, and I am thankful for our associates and their hard work and dedication to serving their customers every day.”

Today, Rural King offers familiar brands such as Carhartt, Blackstone, Ariat, Diamond Pet Foods, Mobil Delvac, Milwaukee Tool, Walnut Creek Foods and Henry Rifles. Its product assortment spans livestock feed and care, pet supplies, tools, hardware, apparel, food, home goods and more.

The RK Foundation for Rural America supports organizations such as 4-H, FFA, Habitat for Humanity and veterans’ groups through partnerships with the Gary Sinise Foundation and others, the release stated. It also funds the Rural King Scholarship Program, which provides college scholarships to associates and their dependents, and has donated more than $1 million to Christian organizations nationwide over the past five years.

Anderson Mall is operated by Summit Properties. In addition to the Sears space, the mall’s largest three retail spots are occupied by JCPenny, Belk and Dillard’s.