www.roanoke.com

This news will not come as a surprise to anyone, since construction is already underway, but Lowe's has just now formally announced it's coming to Salem. The projected opening date is someone in first quarter 2010.

Here's the official -- if belated -- release from Lowe's:

LOWE’S STORE SLATED FOR SALEM, VIRGINIA
The Do-It-Yourself retailer invests $18.5 million to build one-stop shop for appliances,

furnishings, building materials and lawn/garden products

Mooresville, N.C. – A new Lowe’s is under way at the southwest corner of Fourth Street and US 11/US 460. The new Lowe’s store is expected to open in the fiscal first quarter of 2010. The do-it-yourself retailer is known for helping homeowners find the right equipment and supplies to build, improve, beautify and enjoy their homes.

Lowe’s is proud to offer more than 40,000 products under one roof. The home improvement store will have 117,000 square feet of retail sales space. An additional 31,600 square foot garden center will offer an impressive selection of flowers, bushes, trees and garden supplies tailored to the Virginia climate and lifestyle.

A store of this size represents an average investment in the community of approximately $18.5 million and creates up to 175 new jobs.

Lowe’s reaches out to the community through relationships with Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross, United Way and the Home Safety Council. In addition, in 2008, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $25 million to support community and education projects in the United States and Canada. To date, Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation has donated more than $2.8 million in the state of Virginia.

With fiscal year 2008 sales of $48.2 billion, Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 50 company that serves approximately 14 million customers a week at more than 1,675 home improvement stores in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

FAST FACTS ABOUT LOWE’S:
· Opened first Virginia store in 1992; Currently has 66 stores in Virginia.

· Employs approximately 228,000 people, including more than 9,100 employees in Virginia.

· Nation’s Second largest appliance retailer, with more than 250 models in stock daily

· Lowe's is an ENERGY STAR® award-winner seven times running, from 2003-2009, recognized as retail Partner of the Year, for excellence in ENERGY STAR® outreach and excellence in ENERGY STAR® promotion.