Southaven Board Approves Rural King Tax Incentives
The retailer plans to renovate a vacant former Super Kmart building on Stateline Road.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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The Southaven Board of Aldermen has approved a tax incentive application for a new Rural King store. The project will bring the retailer to a 95,000-square-foot space in the former Super Kmart building at 550 Stateline Road.
Why it matters
The city approved the incentives as part of an ongoing effort to revitalize aging commercial properties in the West End District. This program aims to spur investment in vacant buildings by waiving various city taxes and permit fees for qualifying businesses.
The renovation project represents a $19 million total investment, with $3 million specifically allocated for building upgrades. Rural King plans to occupy 95,000 square feet across two of the site's three available suites.
The players
Southaven Board of Aldermen
This local governing body is responsible for municipal legislative actions and the approval of city tax incentives.
Rural King
This farm and home retailer operates 150 stores across 17 states and maintains its corporate headquarters in Mattoon, Illinois.
The details
Renovation work will focus on the building interior, exterior painting, and patching and sealing the parking lot. Buck's Bargain Center will continue to operate in the building's remaining third suite.
Timeline
1995: The Super Kmart building originally opened.
2023: The city granted a tax incentive to American Deli.
February 2025: The previous tenant, Bargain Hunt, closed.
October 20, 2026: The Southaven Board of Aldermen approved the incentive application.
Market Landscape
This project continues the city's trend of utilizing the Southaven Tax Incentive Program to revitalize commercial real estate in the West End District. By incentivizing big-box retailers to occupy vacant space, the city attempts to prevent long-term blight in aging retail corridors.
Residents can expect to see exterior and interior improvements to the Stateline Road property as the renovation progresses. Once opened, the store will provide a new shopping option for home and farm goods within the local community.
The takeaway
Large-scale commercial renovations often depend on municipal incentive packages to make the reuse of older buildings financially viable. Shoppers should monitor future board updates to see when construction milestones are met for a store opening.
Further reading
For more information on retail trends, visit the Southaven Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by DeSoto County News.
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