New Owners Announce Plans For Rita Mall Property

The storefronts at Rita Mall have sat empty for years, but new owners of the property plan to change that.

Nancy Peyton of The Logan Banner reports Diana Barnette said the property has officially been purchased and there are plans to make the developments as diverse as possible.

The dangerous conditions of the old Route 10 is what ultimately led to stores pulling out from the area. The new stretch of roadway connecting Logan and Man opened in August 2017 after 20 years of work to make the road safer.

Barnette said this road opening also offered an opportunity to provide more businesses and services to the people of Man.

Plans include construction of cabins, a nice restaurant, ATV sales, ATV storage for people who visit the trail systems throughout the year, a car wash and a gas station.

The Hatfield-McCoy Trail Authority already has an office on the property, and Barnette said bringing the mix of lodging, retail and storage to this property will be perfect for helping to boost the tourism industry in Logan County.

Barnette said demolition on the existing property will begin this summer. Construction will begin after that, with the gas station coming first.

Once construction is completed, there will be multiple storefronts available for rent.