2008.08.08
Cold Stone Creamery scooping up Roanoke
Ice cream news sure is hot this week. I recently found out that Cold Stone Creamery plans to make its mark in Roanoke this fall.
Jamey Elder, a Cold Stone franchisee who lives in Lynchburg, told me that he's opening a Cold Stone Creamery on Valley View Boulevard. This global ice cream chain is slated for the former spot of U.S. Cellular, beside the International House of Pancakes, at a retail strip center across from Target. The specific opening date hasn't been finalized.
Elder, who owns Cold Stone shops in Christiansburg and Danville, said he's been scouting out a Roanoke location for some time. And he's finally found what he considers to be a suitable spot for high traffic and visibility.
Cold Stone is based in Scottsdale, Ariz., and it has about 1,400 locations in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Mexico, Denmark and United Arab Emirates.
Early this week, I also learned that Ben & Jerry's is planning new shops at Valley View Mall in Roanoke and at the New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg.
Jamey Elder should be extremely careful. As a part of his continuing due diligence, I'm sure he has read the Wall Street Journal and other recent articles concerning Cold Stone's issues.
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB121321718319265569-lMyQjAxMDI4MTEzNjIxMTY3Wj.html
http://www.bluemaumau.org/a_recovering_cold_stone_creamery_franchisee
http://blogs.wsj.com/independentstreet/2008/06/16/cold-stone-case-study-three-warnings-for-franchise-buyers/#comment-14891
Cold Stone is closing stores left and right throughout the country and could be headed towards a collapse. Even if Jamey's current stores are doing well, he has to be concerned with the current direction of the company. Seems he has his head stuck in the sand.
MDK
Comment by Matthew Klein — August 8, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
Speaking of ice cream, I understand that Dairy Queen is going to convert all of their stores to co-branded DQ-Orange Julius locations by next year.
Any word on plans for here?
Comment by Adowntownbusiness — August 9, 2008 @ 1:20 am
Adowntownbusiness,
I haven't heard about local Dairy Queens becoming DQ-Orange Julius, but I'll certainly check on it. I saw a DQ-Orange Julius last month in Myrtle Beach, so it appears that the change already has happened in some locations.
Comment by Jenny — August 10, 2008 @ 12:35 pm
I think Jamey is doing just fine. That's why he didn't just run out and stick a franchise on every location in Roanoke. Cold Stone may have some issues in some locations but the business model is sound.
I ate at a cold stone in North Carolina last week and the line was out the door. The store was in a very similar location to the one plannd at Valley View. In fact, I haven't been to a Cold Stone in VA, NC, or SC that didn't have a line pretty much all the time.
Of course we could just go back to the way things used to be in Roanoke when nobody wanted to bring a national franchise here. Heck, while we are at it maybe we can have victory stadium rebuilt. We can even use the same decaying bricks the old place was built with.
Comment by Greg — August 10, 2008 @ 3:36 pm
Sounds like Greg ate at a "Stone Cold" Creamery instead. :>)
Comment by Kevin — August 11, 2008 @ 6:38 am
Glad to see that we're FINALLY getting one of these in Roanoke. I enjoy their ice cream any time I get the chance while I'm out of town.
Comment by Jesse — August 11, 2008 @ 10:04 am
Personally, I have had better experiences at Maggie Moo's than I have had at Cold Stone and will more than likely continue to go there. But don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see variety coming to our area and the location should help turn a quick profit.
Comment by Star City Batteries — August 11, 2008 @ 11:58 am
Smart move. Put an ice cream parlor right by the movie theatre. Can you say date night?
Comment by Marcie — August 11, 2008 @ 1:31 pm
I agree Star City, Maggie Moo's is very good (Better Batter for the win!). Although I don't live or work on that side of town, so it will be nice to have a Cold Stone up at Valley View, which is not so out of the way for my family.
Yeah Marcie, Logan's for dinner, a good flick, then some ice cream - all right next door to each other! Now THAT sounds like a great date!
Comment by Jesse — August 11, 2008 @ 4:54 pm
Just what we need. Another overpriced ice cream shop.
I have to laugh as I watch people shell out this kind of money for ice cream. It wasn't THAT long ago that you could get a single scoop ice cream cone at High's for a nickel.
Comment by Dan Verniels — August 15, 2008 @ 9:54 am