Not long ago, Emerald Acres Sports Connection was simply an idea—one first discovered during an ICSC convention at a meeting with Rural King Realty and Goodman Real Estate Services Group. That vision has since become reality.
Emerald Acres now operates as a 140,000 SF indoor fieldhouse, with 8 basketball/16 volleyball courts, a Family Entertainment Center, Courtside Cafe, and12 multi-purpose turf fields set to open this summer— establishing itself as a premier regional destination for youth sports, events, and community engagement.
Strategically located between three major Metro areas: Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis, and positioned directly on Interstate 57, Mattoon is a central location for drawing multiple communities for regional business, entertainment, and shopping. This strong connectivity and steady increase of visitors have created ideal conditions for surrounding commercial development, including properties leased and represented by Goodman Real Estate Services Group LLC.
The Shops at Emerald Acres now features a growing community of retail and restaurant tenants including:
- Ross Dress for Less
- Michaels
- Sierra
- Bealls-HomeCentric
- Five Below
- Famous Footwear
- Chipotle
- Chick-Fil-A
- Ulta
- Sports Clips
- Bath & Body Works
- Panda Express
- Maurices
- Texas Roadhouse
- Fairfield Inn
- Hampton Inn
Emerald Acres proudly carries the tagline “Cultivated by Rural King,” a distinction that highlights the essential role Rural King played in bringing the project to life. Founded in Mattoon in 1960, Rural King has long served as a cornerstone of the community, operating its flagship store and store support center locally for more than six decades.
A long-term client of Goodman Real Estate, Rural King partnered with local businesses, organizations, and community leaders to help launch the $80 million indoor and outdoor sports complex. Beyond financial and organizational support, Rural King’s involvement is a reflection on its broader mission as America’s Farm and Home Store—providing essential goods, food, feed, seed, and everyday necessities that support the communities it serves. The company’s deep roots and long-term commitment to Mattoon were instrumental in transforming Emerald Acres from a concept into a catalyst for regional growth.
As Emerald Acres continues to fuel economic momentum in the region, Goodman Real Estate Services Group LLC continues to build upon the success of Emerald Acres by leasing out the balance of the new development. Please contact us for anchor and small space as well as over 20 acres of land still available for development.
