WELCH – Sources in McDowell County confirmed Tuesday that the former Walmart store in Kimball, which was closed earlier this year, has been sold.

The Walmart, which was closed in January, was sold on Sept. 14 for $175,000, according to the specialty warranty deed on file at the McDowell County Clerk's Office.

McDowell County Economic Development Authority Executive Director Stephanie Addair said Tuesday that the sale began in May when an official, Chris Pauley, with the West Virginia Development Office contacted her. The state had been contacted by the Rural King chain.
"He had a call from from the people with Rural King and they were looking for buildings, and he gave them the specs on our Walmart building and it just transpired from there," she said.

"They (Rural King) haven't made any announcements. I really can't say they are coming, but I do know the building has been bought," Addair said.

The fact the Walmart property has been sold is good news for the county, she stated.

"That would mean jobs. It would mean a boost for our economy. It would bring back those jobs lost during the Walmart closure," she said. Addair did not know how many people a new store could employ.



Calls to Rural King representatives were not returned Tuesday.

Rural King, a national farm and home chain with stores in 11 different states, also recently acquired the old Sears building at the Mercer Mall, and is now in the process of renovating the building for an anticipating early 2017 opening. Rural King sells everything from clothing and firearms to hardware, tools and lawn and garden supplies.