LISBON, Ohio - State Senator Michael Rulli has responded to reported rumors that his family’s grocery business is interested in moving into the space being vacated by the Sparkle Market in Lisbon.

21 News reached out to the Senator on Thursday asking him about the report, Rulli responded “just rumors”.

The Lisbon Morning Journal reported that during this week’s Lisbon Board of Public Affairs meeting, Chairman Bill Hoover said he heard that Rulli Brothers are interested in the Sparkle property on Route 45.

A letter from the Furrie and Vitullo families, which have operated the Sparkle Market in Lisbon for 31 years, revealed plans to close the store on October 31.

There have been rumors in the past about plans to expand into other locations by Rulli Brothers, which currently operates grocery stores in Boardman and Austintown. None of the rumors have come to fruition.