A vacant Macy's storefront at The Centre at Salisbury could soon house a very different kind of retailer. Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano and Salisbury Mayor Randy Taylor jointly announced that farm-and-home chain Rural King is planning a new location at the mall, though the deal still hinges on final agreements and necessary approvals.
The department store has sat empty since Macy's closed its Salisbury location in early 2020, part of a wave of department store closures nationwide that year, according to Business Insider. As Delaware State News reported, Rural King is specifically eyeing that former Macy's footprint within the mall. The 140,000-square-foot site has remained vacant, a visible reminder of the retail churn that has reshaped the Eastern Shore's biggest indoor shopping center.
Giordano and Taylor said in the joint release that the potential investment could bring jobs, expanded retail options, and renewed economic activity to Salisbury and Wicomico County. Giordano said the county actively pursues businesses that fit the community and works to build relationships that attract investment, though she cautioned that plans remain tentative even as she said she's encouraged by the progress so far.
How the Talks Came Together
The connection traces back to the International Council of Shopping Centers convention in Las Vegas in May 2026, where Giordano and local economic development representatives met with Rural King representatives to discuss expansion into Wicomico County. Mayor Taylor said bringing Rural King to Salisbury would be exciting news, adding that the city prioritizes revitalization, quality businesses, and opportunities for residents.
State officials also weighed in on the potential deal. The Maryland Department of Commerce recognizes the importance of attracting established businesses, encouraging reinvestment in existing commercial properties, and supporting regional economic growth, according to the joint announcement. Carl Anderton said Rural King's interest reflects the kind of opportunities available on the Eastern Shore, and that the Moore-Miller administration supports partnerships that bring investment, jobs, and economic opportunities to the region.
A Mall That Has Lost Nearly All Its Original Anchors
The Centre at Salisbury opened in July 1990 and covers 856,895 square feet, making it the largest shopping center on Maryland's Eastern Shore and the only regional mall within a 60-mile radius, per Wikipedia. Over the past two decades, though, the property has lost a string of major department store anchors — including Sears, Macy's, JCPenney, Hecht's, and Montgomery Ward — leaving Boscov's as the sole remaining traditional department store, Delaware State News reported. Boscov's expanded its store by 18,000 square feet in 2019.
Property management firm 4th Dimension Properties took over ownership and management of the mall around 2023 and has since pursued plans to introduce new stores and enhance the shopping experience, according to Retail Dead or Alive. A Rural King lease would mark one of the most significant wins yet in that effort, and city and county officials have framed the potential location as a possible catalyst for additional commercial investment and revitalization of the former mall property.
Rural King's Playbook of Repurposing Old Anchor Stores
In 2025, Rural King confirmed plans for a Lancaster, Ohio, store in a former Elder-Beerman space at River Valley Mall, per the Scioto Post.
Headquartered in Mattoon, Illinois, Rural King describes itself as a billion-dollar, family-owned retailer known as America's Farm and Home Store, offering agricultural supplies, tools, hardware, lawn and garden products, livestock and pet supplies, outdoor equipment, clothing, and household essentials, per the joint announcement from Giordano and Taylor. The company now operates more than 150 locations, and in October 2026 it broke ground on a $75 million Store Support Center headquarters campus in Mattoon — complete with a three-story corporate office, a relocated flagship store, and an event center — according to ACHR News. That campus upgrade is scheduled for completion by spring 2028.
A Different Retail Mix for Salisbury
Rural King's mix of agricultural supplies, livestock and pet supplies, clothing, and household essentials could give Salisbury shoppers another farm-and-home retail option.
For now, no final opening date has been established for the proposed Rural King location, and the project still requires final agreements and approvals, per the joint statement from Giordano and Taylor. Officials said additional information will be shared as discussions progress.
