By 1812Blockhouse
Drivers coming off I-71 at the Ohio 13 interchange have watched a long stretch of dirt and steel take shape over the past year. What was once another quiet corner of the Possum Run retail cluster is about to welcome two nationally known names, Tractor Supply and Five Below, in a side-by-side project that signals fresh momentum for the south Mansfield corridor.
A second Tractor Supply for the area
The farm and rural lifestyle retailer will occupy the larger of the two spaces at 2485 Possum Run Road. Tractor Supply already serves customers from a store on West Fourth Street, but company representatives say the new site is meant to reach shoppers who live and work closer to the interstate and in southern Richland County.
The chain has been adding leading locations across Ohio, and local officials have pointed to the Possum Run store as part of that statewide push. Early plans called for a January 2026 opening, and recent activity at the site suggests the schedule remains on track.
Tractor Supply Company operates as a major U.S. retail chain specializing in agricultural, livestock, pet, and rural lifestyle supplies. Stores stock items like farm tools, animal feed, fencing, workwear, and gardening equipment, with around 2,250 locations nationwide as of late 2024.
Five Below adds a playful touch
Next door, Five Below is preparing to bring its bright, budget-friendly mix of toys, games, and trend items to the same development. The retailer opened a store at Ontario Towne Center not long ago, and the Possum Run location will give families on both sides of town an easier drive to the popular discount shop. The pairing of the two stores is being handled by Cocca Development, which has promoted the project on social media this month with a simple message that the openings are coming soon (see post below).
Five Below is a popular discount retail chain offering trendy items like toys, tech accessories, beauty products, and room decor, primarily priced at $5 or less, with some items up to $40 in a “Five Beyond” section. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Philadelphia, it targets tweens and teens with over 1,800 stores across 46 states as of late 2024.
A familiar crossroads gains new energy
The Possum Run Road and I-71 interchange has slowly grown into a gateway for Mansfield, with hotels, restaurants, and service businesses clustering near the ramps. Local shoppers often stop there on the way home from Columbus or Cleveland, and the addition of Tractor Supply and Five Below broadens the mix beyond food and fuel.
Neighbors who travel the route daily have noticed landscaping going in, parking lots striped, and delivery trucks arriving. Those are the small signs that a project is nearing the finish line, and many expect doors to open within weeks.
Looking ahead
For Mansfield, the dual opening is more than two ribbon cuttings. It reflects confidence that the south side can support additional retail and that the interstate corridor remains a magnet for investment.
Photo: Creative Commons License
