Progress of Kingsport Rural King remains mostly a mystery

KINGSPORT — If you drive by the Fort Henry Mall today, you can still see where the JCPenney sign once hung. Even four years after its closure, the dirt and grime outline the letters of the former store.While the building has remained vacant for a while, word continues to travel about development of the site into a future Rural King. Excitement first started to build about the project back in June 2023 after property records filed by the company showed the former JCPenney property was purchased for more than $2.6 million.The transaction was listed under AJM, LCC Kingsport TN, who bought the property, according to a limited warranty deed recorded in the Sullivan County Register of Deeds. Rural King was specifically referenced in the deed as a potential occupant of the building.Following the initial documents filed in 2023, news about the forthcoming Rural King remained under wraps for several months until the mall's public announcement in October 2023.At that announcement, city and mall officials confirmed an $8 million investment into the Fort Henry Mall, which would bring a new, regionally exclusive IMAX theater to the area.John Mulherin, vice president of government relations for Hull Property Group, referenced at that time the JCPenney property being bought by a "large national retailer," and construction for the IMAX theater and renovations of that property would line up.It wasn't until a follow-up press conference in May 2024 that Mulherin mentioned Rural King by name. He said Rural King's store planner and head of construction visited the former JCPenney property, and interior demolition would start later that month.He said Rural King is expected to open in spring 2025.So what's new?A deed of trust, security agreement and fixture filing was signed for the property on April 26. The address in the agreement was listed at 2101 Fort Henry Drive, matching the location of the mall.A document describing the assignment of lease and rents was also dated for the same day, with AJM, LLC Kingsport TN listed as the "assignor." Both documents were signed by Don W. Davis, noted as the manager of AJM, LLC Kingsport TN.Rural King declined to comment Thursday on the status of the Kingsport location, but the company did share a job posting in the past month for the position of store manager.Property assessment records note the building has nearly 90,000 square feet of space.State of the mallThe mall has seen a fluctuation of tenants over the past few months, with the departure of Claire's, Ruffles in the Mud, rue21 and FYE this year.Rue21 filed for bankruptcy in May 2024, resulting in the closure of all its stores across the nation.FYE closed its doors in June on the heels of an announcement the store would open in the Mall at Johnson City over the summer. Neither Hull Property Group nor a representative with FYE could be reached for comment regarding the closure.Most recently, Urban Brews & Creamery was announced as the winner of this year's Search for Kingsport's Next Great Pop-Up Shop, scheduled to open inside the mall in October. The search is done annually as part of The American Dream Project, an initiative started by Hull Property Group in 2019.The project shared on its social media that last year's pop-up winner, Appalachian Honey Boutique, is transitioning from a pop-up shop to permanent tenant.City officials have also announced plans to temporarily move the Kingsport Public Library to the mall by spring 2024. The lease agreement gives the library suites 120, 122 and 123 in the mall — which is located inside the former Rack Room shoes and two adjacent suites.Eggs Up Grill, New York Butcher Shoppe and a third business were previously announced as tenants of a future outparcel at the mall. Mulherin said at the May 2024 press conference mall officials are looking at moving the outparcel to another spot on the property to make room for what may become something bigger on the former Sears parcel.A release regarding the Kingsport Eggs Up location stated the restaurant is set to open later this year.About Rural KingRural King, coined "America's Farm and Home Store," provides a variety of food, feed, seed and other farm and home products.The store got its start in Mattoon, Illinois, 64 years ago. The company has established over 130 stores in 13 states: Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, West Virginia and Virginia.The corporate office, distribution center and flagship store are located in Mattoon, Illinois."Our locations have an outstanding product mix with items such as livestock feed, farm equipment, agricultural parts, lawn mowers, workwear, fashion clothing, housewares and toys," the website states.In Tennessee, there are locations in Knoxville, Maryville, Morristown, Sweetwater, Crossville and Clarksville. The Clarksville location celebrated the most recent opening back in 2019. Across state lines, a Rural King opened in Bristol, Virginia in Aug. 2020.About Hull Property GroupHull Property Group bought the Fort Henry Mall, then known as the Kingsport Town Center, in 2016. The following year, the new owners started a $4.6 million renovation with a $2.6 million payment in lieu of taxes agreement with the city.When the mall originally opened in 1976, it relied on three anchor stores: Belk, JCPenney and Sears. At the height of the mall's popularity, more than 65 stores were located there.With a property portfolio of almost 20 million square feet, Hull Property Group manages 35 enclosed shopping malls across the country. The group maintains a retail presence primarily across the eastern part of the U.S., in states such as North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and Virginia.The Columbia Mall is the only other Tennessee property to be managed by the group, according to the group's website.