Tractor Supply to occupy former Parkway site in St. Albans; city limits will restrict live-chicken sales

Mayor Scott James announced that Tractor Supply Company will locate at the former Parkway supermarket site in St. Albans and that the company expects to submit plans to the city in January, with a goal to open in late spring to early summer.

The mayor said Tractor Supply is a large national retailer and noted the company’s expansion plans. “They do sell chickens and chicken supplies, but that’s gonna be for people outside city limits as of right now,” he said, describing steps the city will take to limit any sales or uses that would conflict with local sanitation and noise rules. The hosts also pushed back on a social‑media rumor that a Kmart in the area would reopen, saying that was inaccurate.

Why it matters: the announcement represents a sizable retail investment in St. Albans and could restore shopping options after recent closures. City leaders signaled a standard planning review will follow: site plans, building‑code work and eventual inspections before permitting and opening. Mayor James said the company will be “fixing things up, bringing it up to code” during the permitting process.

City details from the podcast: Tractor Supply’s company statistics were discussed (the mayor cited the chain’s national footprint and growth targets), and officials said store planning is pending submittal in January. The city will evaluate land‑use compatibility, and the mayor said some products—specifically live poultry—are being managed so sales do not create conflicts inside municipal limits. Anthony Romeo noted community interest and social‑media concerns; the mayor framed the approach as cautious and focused on neighbors’ expectations.

The city did not provide a firm number of jobs or a specific opening date beyond the company’s target season, and no formal development application had been posted to the city’s public agenda at the time of the podcast.