Staff photo / R. Michael Semple Warren Councilman Ron White Sr., D-7th Ward, talks about renovations taking place at the Trumbull Plaza on Parkman Road on the city’s northwest side. Rural King, a farm and home supply retailer, is renovating the former Kmart store.

WARREN — Trumbull Plaza on Parkman Road is on the brink of revival as the transformation of the former Kmart store nears completion, with city officials hoping the once-popular shopping district reclaims its status.

Rural King, the farm and home supply retailer, is moving in as the new anchor tenant, signaling a fresh start for the area, according to Councilman Ron White, D-7th Ward. Workers are on-site and the store’s sign could be installed within weeks.

A hiring event is scheduled for next week, offering positions for department leaders, mechanics, cashiers and more.

White said the store will bring 64 jobs, including 22 full-time positions, giving a boost to the local job market.

Rural King will be open seven days per week, offering everything from motor tractor repairs to outdoor clothing and animal feed.

“This has been a long time coming,” White said. “People on this side of town have been waiting for something like this for years.”

He added that Rural King’s presence should not only make shopping more convenient for residents, but also be a catalyst for more businesses to move into the plaza.

In addition to the Rural King project, infrastructure and development efforts are underway throughout Warren, including:

l Second Street and Union Street waterline project is a $1.5 million effort to replace and upgrade aging waterlines, funded through a combination of local and state resources.

l 2025 roads program is a $1.1 million program for road improvements covering Parkman Road, Martin Luther King Boulevard, Brier and Sedgwick streets, and Coventry Avenue, with funding from city and state grants.

l The West Warren project will see the construction of a $12.6 million, 98,000-square-foot industrial facility on a 9.8-acre parcel within the West Warren Industrial Park, expected to house five docks and two garage doors.

l Cleveland Steel Container is developing a new facility on Enterprise Drive that will boost local manufacturing capabilities.

Local businesses near Trumbull Plaza also are hopeful about the ripple effect. Rural King, which owns the entire plaza, purchased the property for $1.8 million in 2018. Beyond its retail offerings, White explained that Rural King will have a welcoming atmosphere, with amenities like free coffee and popcorn for shoppers.

“It’s more than just a store, it’s a place where people can come, shop and hang out,” White said.

Rural King’s expansion into Warren is part of a larger push to open 15 new stores across the country over the next year, creating hundreds of jobs. For longtime residents who remember Trumbull Plaza’s heyday, White said the excitement is growing. “This used to be the go-to place for holiday shopping,” White said.“Now we’re looking at something even better. It’s not just about reopening a plaza, it’s about bringing life back to the community.”

Rural King’s corporate office was not available to respond in time to inquiries regarding the future plans for the plaza.