Rural King closes Rantoul location, but says 15 set to open in 13 months

RANTOUL, Ill. (WAND) — Rural King, a farm and home store, is closing its doors in Rantoul and opening 15 stores within the next year.

There has yet to be a word on when the store in Rantoul will close. However, they say the Rantoul and Champaign stores will be combined.

Despite the closure in Rantoul, 15 new Rural Kings will open within 13 months across the country while expanding their market to other states.

“Rural King is entering an exciting phase of growth,” said Steve Barbarick, president and CEO of Rural King. “As a family-owned business with 64 years of history, Rural King has always been deeply committed to serving our friends, family, and neighbors across our communities. These strategic changes will allow us to build even stronger relationships with our customers, create new jobs, and support the growth of rural America.”

The popcorn favorite farm store says its continued growth poises it to be a prominent player, creating more than 750 new jobs. “My family is honored to continue investing in the growth and development of Rural King and its associates,” said Alex Melvin, owner of Rural King. “None of this would be possible without their loyalty and dedication to our customers. We appreciate the opportunity to serve our communities.”