LaPorte's Maple Lane Mall purchased by Rural King

Rural King closed on the sale of the 221,000-square-foot building Oct. 27 for $4.1 million, according to public records on file with LaPorte County government.

The listed seller of the mall, which was built in 1975, was a trust with the International Bank of Chicago. 

Attempts to contact representatives of the Mattoon, Ill.-based Rural King about plans for the site were unsuccessful Friday.

Steve Nicksic, an agent/broker with South Bend-based Bradley Company, was hired by IBC trust to sell the property. He believes Rural King will open a store where Kmart used to be in the mall along Indiana 2 on the city’s west side.

Kmart shut its doors in March, leaving just Dunham Sports and two other businesses left in the once thriving mall.