What it's like to visit Rural King, a chain that sells farm supplies, guns, and live chicks — with perks like free popcorn

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Áine CainApr 15, 2022, 20:40 IST
What it's like to visit Rural King, a chain that sells farm supplies, guns, and live chicks — with perks like free popcorn

Rural King has sections for firearms and live chicks.Áine Cain/Insider

  • Founded in 1960 in Mattoon, Illinois, Rural King is a chain of farm supply stores.
  • The company has stores in 13 states across the Midwest and South.

Rural King is a farm supply store chain known for its eclectic mix of merchandise, which includes grass seeds, grills, auto parts, live animals, and firearms.

But to get a better feel for the shopping experience offered at the store, I visited a Rural King location in Greenwood, Indiana, a suburb of Indianapolis.

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I visited a Rural King on a rainy April weekday in Greenwood, Indiana. Size-wise, it's a pretty big store, selling a mix of products around farm supplies, tools, and housewares.

I visited a Rural King on a rainy April weekday in Greenwood, Indiana. Size-wise, it's a pretty big store, selling a mix of products around farm supplies, tools, and housewares.
I visited a Rural King just outside of Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

Inside, the location has an expansive, stripped-down feel. Outside of a few special standout stops that we'll get to in a moment, it's a pretty average, almost industrial-looking store.

Inside, the location has an expansive, stripped-down feel. Outside of a few special standout stops that we'll get to in a moment, it's a pretty average, almost industrial-looking store.
The Rural King that I visited was a large store.Áine Cain/Insider
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A lot of the products focus around all things farming, with plenty of cost-efficient bulk offerings ...

A lot of the products focus around all things farming, with plenty of cost-efficient bulk offerings ...
The Rural King offers numerous gardening suppliesÁine Cain/Insider

... but there are also items dedicated to more universal pursuits, like gardening.

... but there are also items dedicated to more universal pursuits, like gardening.
The front of the Rural King was decked out with gardening supplies for spring.Áine Cain/Insider
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I encountered this self-serve grass seed station. Rural King's more interactive displays make the shopping experience more memorable.

I encountered this self-serve grass seed station. Rural King's more interactive displays make the shopping experience more memorable.
A display of seeds inside the Rural King.Áine Cain/Insider

Rural King also carries a number of different tool brands, allowing the chain to compete with home improvement and hardware stores. The company is headquartered in the city where it was first founded back in 1960: Mattoon, Illinois.

Rural King also carries a number of different tool brands, allowing the chain to compete with home improvement and hardware stores. The company is headquartered in the city where it was first founded back in 1960: Mattoon, Illinois.
Rural King sells different types of tools.Áine Cain/Insider
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Walking around the store felt a bit like visiting a movie theater. For reasons that will become clear later on, much of the store smells like popcorn.

Walking around the store felt a bit like visiting a movie theater. For reasons that will become clear later on, much of the store smells like popcorn.
Rural King is a farm supply store.Áine Cain/Insider

We walked around to practically every section in the store. Rural King sells everything from auto parts to patio furniture to outdoor appliances, like these grills.

We walked around to practically every section in the store. Rural King sells everything from auto parts to patio furniture to outdoor appliances, like these grills.
Rural King sells appliances like grills.Áine Cain/Insider
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There's plenty of outdoor decor, like these ornamental seraphim ...

There's plenty of outdoor decor, like these ornamental seraphim ...
Angel statues lined up in the aisle of a Rural King.Áine Cain/Insider

... although some of those options, like poor St. Francis of Assisi here, looked kind of battered.

... although some of those options, like poor St. Francis of Assisi here, looked kind of battered.
A slightly broken St. Francis of Assisi figure inside the Rural King.Áine Cain/Insider
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There are also plenty of items that serve practical purposes for individuals and families living in more rural areas, like these owl decoys meant to deter birds.

There are also plenty of items that serve practical purposes for individuals and families living in more rural areas, like these owl decoys meant to deter birds.
Decoy owls sit on a shelf in the Rural King I visited.Áine Cain/Insider

The Rural King boasted a large apparel section, which centered around lots of heavy-duty work-related clothing.

The Rural King boasted a large apparel section, which centered around lots of heavy-duty work-related clothing.
The Rural King was stocked with work clothes.Áine Cain/Insider
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There were also quite a few political t-shirts and hats ...

There were also quite a few political t-shirts and hats ...
T-shirts for sale in a Rural King outside Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider

... along with some more silly designs meant to signify a "country" lifestyle. The company currently operates over 120 stores in the US, with locations scattered across 13 states in the Midwest and the South.

... along with some more silly designs meant to signify a "country" lifestyle. The company currently operates over 120 stores in the US, with locations scattered across 13 states in the Midwest and the South.
Rural King sells a lot of country-themed merchandise.Áine Cain/Insider
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Rural King also had a surprisingly big footwear section, with work shoes and boots, and dressier options, like these cowboy boots.

Rural King also had a surprisingly big footwear section, with work shoes and boots, and dressier options, like these cowboy boots.
The Rural King had a robust footwear section.Áine Cain/Insider

... there were even selling cowboy boots for kids.

... there were even selling cowboy boots for kids.
The Rural King I visited offered numerous types of boots.Áine Cain/Insider
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In addition to larger ticket items like these vehicles ...

In addition to larger ticket items like these vehicles ...
The Rural King sold small recreational vehicles.Áine Cain/Insider

... and sections devoted to hobbies like fishing ...

... and sections devoted to hobbies like fishing ...
The fishing section in the Rural King I visited.Áine Cain/Insider
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... and hunting ...

... and hunting ...
Rural King offered sections dedicated to hobbies like hunting.Áine Cain/Insider

... the Rural King also stocked more standard retail fair. The grocery section in the store contained brands like MoonPies.

... the Rural King also stocked more standard retail fair. The grocery section in the store contained brands like MoonPies.
Boxes of treats sit on the shelf at a Rural King.Áine Cain/Insider
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Rural King also offered an entire shelf of private label products, like jams and spiced peaches.

Rural King also offered an entire shelf of private label products, like jams and spiced peaches.
The Rural King we visited sells different preserves, like spiced peaches.Áine Cain/Insider

But the showstopper section of the store — which is marked in the Greenwood location by a trail meant to look like yellow chicken-feet — has to do with the company's origins as a farm supply retailer.

But the showstopper section of the store — which is marked in the Greenwood location by a trail meant to look like yellow chicken-feet — has to do with the company's origins as a farm supply retailer.
A path of chicken feet-shaped marks leads the way to the animal section of Rural King.Áine Cain/Insider
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An entire row of tubs containing hordes of cheeping baby chicks — and occasionally ducklings — sits at the core of the store.

An entire row of tubs containing hordes of cheeping baby chicks — and occasionally ducklings — sits at the core of the store.
A row of buckets containing baby chicks at a Rural King.Áine Cain/Insider

At the Greenwood store, a memorial dedicated to a man once known as "Chicken Charlie" overlooks the tubs.

At the Greenwood store, a memorial dedicated to a man once known as "Chicken Charlie" overlooks the tubs.
A memorial to a person known as "Chicken Charlie" at a Rural King outside of Indianapolis.Áine Cain/Insider
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The chicks are clustered around food dispensers, beneath heat lamps keeping them warm.

The chicks are clustered around food dispensers, beneath heat lamps keeping them warm.
Rural King sells baby chicks.Áine Cain/Insider

Each bucket represents a different breed of chicken.

Each bucket represents a different breed of chicken.
Chicks roam around inside a bucket in a Rural King.Áine Cain/Insider
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Lots of passersby, even those with zero interest in buying backyard chickens, swing by to look at the baby animals.

Lots of passersby, even those with zero interest in buying backyard chickens, swing by to look at the baby animals.
A basket of chicks gathered beneath a heat lamp in a Rural King.Áine Cain/Insider

There are also a variety of bunny rabbits kept in cages nearby, as well.

There are also a variety of bunny rabbits kept in cages nearby, as well.
A bunny rabbit for sale in a Rural King.Áine Cain/Insider
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The chicks and rabbits are definitely the highlight of the entire store.

The chicks and rabbits are definitely the highlight of the entire store.
A close-up of baby chicks sold at a Rural King.Áine Cain/Insider

Signs warn Rural King shoppers walking with dogs to not allow their pets to rush the chick tubs or rabbit cases. And nearby, there's a box of treats to help bribe dogs into behaving in the store.

Signs warn Rural King shoppers walking with dogs to not allow their pets to rush the chick tubs or rabbit cases. And nearby, there's a box of treats to help bribe dogs into behaving in the store.
A box of doggie bone treats sits open in a Rural King.Áine Cain/Insider
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Rural King also features a gun section that gives the location a unique feel. This part of the store had a distinctive smell, but I'm not knowledgeable enough about guns to hazard a guess about what it was.

Rural King also features a gun section that gives the location a unique feel. This part of the store had a distinctive smell, but I'm not knowledgeable enough about guns to hazard a guess about what it was.
Equipment for gun target practice in a Rural King.Áine Cain/Insider

It did feel odd to see an open display of firearms in a general merchandise store...

It did feel odd to see an open display of firearms in a general merchandise store...
Rural King sells all types of guns, at least at this Indiana location.Áine Cain/Insider
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... especially given that so many other retailers have backed away from gun sales.

... especially given that so many other retailers have backed away from gun sales.
A close-up look at some of the guns sold at this Indiana Rural King.Áine Cain/Insider

The last unusual aspect of the Rural King shopping experience involves a major perk: free popcorn for guests.

The last unusual aspect of the Rural King shopping experience involves a major perk: free popcorn for guests.
Rural King gives away free popcorn to shoppers.Áine Cain/Insider
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Anyone can grab a paper bag, fill it up with freshly popped popcorn, and munch on it as they shop.

Anyone can grab a paper bag, fill it up with freshly popped popcorn, and munch on it as they shop.
My husband opted to get some of Rural King's free popcorn.Áine Cain/Insider

All in all, there were a few areas of this particular store that looked a bit rough and empty, likely owing to supply chain issues.

All in all, there were a few areas of this particular store that looked a bit rough and empty, likely owing to supply chain issues.
Shelves sit empty in a Rural King.Áine Cain/Insider
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But from the looks of their persistent messaging around hiring for open jobs, the chain appears to be in good shape.

But from the looks of their persistent messaging around hiring for open jobs, the chain appears to be in good shape.
The Rural King I visited is undergoing a hiring campaign.Áine Cain/Insider

Overall, Rural King offers an unusual but memorable shopping experience that makes it a pretty fun store to visit.

Overall, Rural King offers an unusual but memorable shopping experience that makes it a pretty fun store to visit.
The view down an aisle at Rural King.Áine Cain/Insider
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In addition to Rural King's entertaining novelties, the chain's unabashed focus on rural life renders it a helpful shopping stop for consumers with any sort of outdoor or farming needs.

In addition to Rural King's entertaining novelties, the chain's unabashed focus on rural life renders it a helpful shopping stop for consumers with any sort of outdoor or farming needs.
I visited this Rural King in Indiana.Áine Cain/Insider
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