The Rural King store slated to open later this year in the former Econofoods building in Peru will hire about 65 people, a representative said.

"Typically when we buy a building we could be looking at 8, 10, 12 weeks before we open," said Tim Lodes, human resources director in Rural King's corporate office in Mattoon, Ill.

Rural King is running an ad in the NewsTribune seeking workers. Lodes said they will employ "approximately 65 part time and full time."

The farm and home supply chain bought the building in April. The 60,000-square-foot building at 1350 38th St. sat vacant for five years after Econofoods grocery closed.

"We'll start construction very soon," Lodes said. "I don't have a real good timetable yet as to when we would be in there."

This will be the 50th store for Rural King. It has stores in seven Midwestern states.