PARKERSBURG – The Park Shopping Center has seen many ups and downs during its time in Parkersburg, but Tuesday night signaled a new beginning for the retail center as the community came out to welcome Rural King to the area.

Around 300 people, including political and business leaders, gathered at the shopping center for an Autumn Cocktail Buffet to commemorate the opening of the farm and home store in Parkersburg.

Rural King is opening its 76th store today, its first in West Virginia, in the 110,000-square-foot facility previously occupied by Big Bear Plus. Crews have been working throughout the summer to get the store ready, including repaving the parking lot outside the location.

A number of people were able to go into the store, which was conducting a soft opening event, to get a look at what was available.

“We were exited about the area,” said Brock Ashley, vice president of business development for Rural King. “We think the agriculture in the area is going to be good for our business and our product.

“This is a good location. We are excited about being in the Park Shopping Center. We thought we brought a real value to the property.”

Parkersburg was the kind of town that Rural King would be a good fit for, Ashley said.

“This is rural America in this pocket of West Virginia,” he said. “I think between our prices, our customer service and the value that we are bringing to the everyday customer.

“We think we have a nice looking store. We did not go over the top with anything. We tried to take our expenses and focus them on our products. We want to give our customers the best price we can.”

Rural King’s product mix includes pets, livestock and feed; medications; power equipment; seasonal decor; lawn and garden chemicals; agricultural parts and chemicals; hardware; plumbing; sporting goods including camping, hunting and fishing; automotive; heating and cooling; clothing; power tools; toys; and pest control.

The location will employ 88 full- and part-time associates.

Ron Salter, president of Salter & Associates, the local public relations and marketing firm representing Park Shopping Center, commended the work that had been done to get the shopping center looking good.

“It has been a long time in coming,” he said. “Rural King will be a nice addition to this center as it continues to grow.

“The Park Shopping Center has been around for a long time and it has had its ups and downs. Now we are seeing a new resurgence,” Salter said.

Officials, including Park Shopping Center Manager Brad Glazer, discussed the history of the shopping center since it was first opened in the mid-1950s and how the area has continually changed and developed during that time.

The city has been working to improve traffic control and access to the shopping center. Park Shopping Center is home to Gabriel Brothers, Crafts 2000, Dollar Tree and Big Lots.

Parkersburg Mayor Bob Newell talked about how he believes the Rural King will help attract other businesses to the area.

“I believe they will become an anchor for other businesses,” he said.

“It has been a long journey to get to where we are today,” Newell said. “I am very proud this corporation has decided to come here.”

Rural King CEO Alex Melvin said they were working Tuesday evening to get the store ready for today’s opening.

“It looks great,” he said. “Rural King did the paving our front (the parking lot). It looks great.

“Come by (today) and buy something, please.”

David Dodd of Mercantile Reality Inc., who helped finalize the deal to bring Rural King to the Park Shopping Center, said they are having more leasing activity at the shopping center because of Rural King.

“Hopefully at many of these properties, there will be nice shops that you all can use,” he said.

Dodd hinted at something else that might be coming to the area.

“I can’t tell you who it is,” he said. “We do have something that would be very unique for the market.

“It would be the first for the Parkersburg and the surrounding area. You will have to come back and shop here to find out.”