The city of Blue Earth received some big news this past Thursday when it was announced that a business will be moving into the closed Walmart building this next spring.

Bomgaars Supply, a farm and ranch, Iowa-based retail chain has signed a lease on the Walmart building, Blue Earth city administrator Tim Ibisch confirmed last week.

“We are very excited that the Walmart site will be filled so soon after it was closed,” Ibisch said. “This is a real boost to the Blue Earth business community.”

Dave Meyer, senior vice president and CEO of Bomgaars Supply, also confirmed they will take possession of the property, their 83rd store, on Feb. 1, 2018, and will open next spring.

The store manager will be Mike Dehrkoop and they will be hiring approximately 20-25 employees from the local area, he added.

Meyer says they will be having a “Hiring Fair” sometime in February, and after some light construction and several weeks of preparation, the store is currently scheduled to open for business in early May of 2018, with an official grand opening celebration in mid-May.

Bomgaars Supply is a fourth generation company, privately owned by Roger and Jane Bomgaars. It was started in 1952.

Their 82 stores are located in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho.

The company employs approximately 2,100 employees.