After more than a year in the works, Centre County’s first Rural King set to open soon
Rural King plans to have a grand opening for its first Centre County location March 27, which would mark the first time in more than five years that a business opened in one of the Nittany Mall’s four anchor locations.
The Illinois-based farm and home department store chain would occupy the 82,944-square-foot space that formerly was home to Sears. The employer confirmed the grand opening date in a written statement.
The business’ plans to open have been in the works for more than a year.
The retailer originally planned to sign a long-term lease for the space, but sent College Township an application in July to subdivide the space and become owner of the property — similar to the former Macy’s location.
The township, which did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment, is still reviewing those plans.
It’s unclear how many people will be employed at the business, though 19 positions are posted on the company’s website. Neither Rural King nor the mall’s ownership group immediately responded.
Dunham’s Sports, which opened in March 2016, has been the mall’s only anchor store for nearly a year. Sears and Bon-Ton closed in 2018, while Macy’s followed two years later. The latter two remain vacant.
Happy Valley — if not the mall itself — could see additional development in the first half of 2021.
Bally’s Corporation partnered with investor and Penn state alum Ira Lubert to develop a $120 million mini-casino “near the Nittany Mall.”
A specific location has not yet been named. A formal application outlining the casino’s location, amenities and employment projections is due by March.
This story was originally published February 3, 2021 at 12:45 PM.