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Jewelry retailer, Zale Corp., said late last month that it will close 115 underperforming stores across the country as the retailer's leases expire. But don't expect to find out from the company whether this will include the Roanoke or Christiansburg Zales locations.

A Zale spokeswoman told me today that the jewelry chain will not publish a list of the stores set to close. These closings will happen through July 2010.

There is some promising news. Zale doesn't plan to shut down all of its stores in one geographic market. It's not clear if Zale considers Roanoke and Christiansburg as one market.

Below is a statement from Zale's vice president and treasurer, David Sternblitz.

"The store closings are part of the Company's focus on return on capital. We are reviewing on a store-by-store basis and are not exiting any geographic markets."

You can read more about the Zale closings here.

Correction: Three of the top 10 healthies fast food restaurant chains have regional locations. Au Bon Pain has several locations in the New River Valley, both at Virginia Tech and at Radford University.

The words "healthy" and "fast food" typically don't fit in the same sentence. Still, Health Magazine has published a list of the top 10 healthiest fast food restaurants, based on growing selections of salads, soups and whole grain breads on these menus. For the ranking, the magazine considered restaurants that use healthy fats and sodium counts, organic foods, and offer sufficient nutritional information about the selections.

Below are the winners, though only two of the chains have Roanoke and New River valley locations. If you've traveled much,  you've likely dined at some of these eateries in other cities.

1. Panera Bread

2. Jason's Deli

3. Au Bon Pain

4. Noodles and Co.

5. Corner Bakery Cafe

6. Chipotle

7. Atlanta Bread

8. McDonald's

9. Einstein Bros. Bagels

10. Taco Del Mar

Click here to read the article in Health Magazine about why these chains made the list.

Also, note that on the Datasphere's datablog at www.roanoke.com, you can read the nutritional information for Panera Bread's menu.

Goodwill is making plans to open a Blacksburg store.

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys is remodeling an 8,470 square foot location at North Main Street and Patrick Henry Drive to create a retail store and donations center. Formerly Family Dollar was housed there.

The new Goodwill store is aiming for a summer 2009 opening, states a news release from this Roanoke-based non-profit.

"The stores close proximity to the Virginia Tech campus, local apartment complexes, as well as residential neighborhoods will make it easy to shop and donate," the news release says.

The Blacksburg location is Goodwill's 28th store, and it will employ 15 people, including management positions.

You  may have noticed that a Goodwill attended donation center already is open in the parking lot of this new store. This center accepts donations of used clothing, furniture, computers, small appliances and more.

In other Blacksburg retail news,  Sal's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria now is open at the First & Main shopping center. Read this story for more details.

Hello, blog readers. I hope all is well with you on this rainy Sunday afternoon. I won't be blogging tomorrow, because Monday is a furlough day for The Roanoke Times.

So, here's some of the latest retail news that I've learned. Shula's 347 Grill still is headed for a Roanoke hotel, but this chain has delayed its opening by another month. This Florida-based steak, seafood and hamburger restaurant plans to open a location at the Roanoke Plaza Hotel off Hershberger Road. This hotel, formerly known as the Wyndham Hotel,  soon will become a Sheraton property. It has been undergoing renovations for at least a year for this brand transformation.

A spokesman for Shula's Steakhouses, the owner of Shula's 347 Grill, initially expected the restaurant to open its Roanoke location in late 2008. But the company later changed that forecast to November 2009. Now this eatery likely won't open until December 2009 because of construction delays, said Bill Herman, a spokesman for Shula's. The Shula's chain was founded by legendary NFL coach Don Shula.

The Roanoke Plaza Hotel currently has one restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Here's my story from last summer about the changes at this hotel.

It's not always certain that a retailer will accept gift cards during a store closing sale.

But don't worry if you're holding onto a Plan 9 Music gift certificate or store credit. You still can use them at the Roanoke Plan 9 store before March 29, its closing day.

The Richmond-based music retailer said Thursday that it will close its Roanoke store in the Grandin Village. It's also closing a Harrisonburg store this month. Here's the story with more details.

A news release from Plan 9 says gift certificates and store credits will be redeemed through the end of the liquidation sale. After the Roanoke store closes, other Plan 9 locations will honor these gift certificates and credits.

Also, Plan 9 will continue to buy CDs, DVDs and LPs at the Roanoke store until it shuts its doors.

Jim Bland, owner of Plan 9, told me Thursday that leftover inventory from the Roanoke store will be sent to the chain's four remaining stores in Richmond, Charlottesville, Williamsburg and Winston-Salem, N.C.

Sportsman's Warehouse likely will close the doors of its Roanoke store by May 11. That's according to a WARN notice filed with the state of Virginia by the Utah-based outdoors retailer. A WARN notice gives information about mass company layoffs. It lists May 11 as the impact date for the Roanoke store.

Sportsman's Warehouse announced Tuesday its plans to close 23 stores nationwide to reduce bank debt. According to the WARN notice, the closure will affect 54 employees at the Roanoke store.

If you're interested in reading more about the retailer's financial struggles, check out this story in the Salt Lake Tribune.

We're all trying to save money these days.

I found interesting two companion columns about what items you should try to buy used and what you should always buy new.

For used items, opt for books, DVDs and CDs, sports equipment, children's toys and hand tools, according to this MSN Money column.

But you should choose new laptops, DVD players, car seats, plasma tvs, shoes and mattresses. For more ideas, click here to read the column. 

What do you think about these suggestions? I certainly agree with buying used books. I've found some great deals that way.

The Roanoke Rescue Mission wants to open a thrift shop and café inside the Civic Mall on Williamson Road in Roanoke.

A building permit filed with the city of Roanoke reveals that the local non-profit is making plans to renovate space inside this building, which mainly houses offices. The plans, which call for thrift retail space and a small cafe, haven’t yet been approved by the city.

The Rescue Mission already runs its own thrift shop adjacent to its facility on Fourth Street in Roanoke.

Also, in late January, the Rescue Mission closed its Art on a Mission store at Tanglewood Mall in Roanoke County.

I'll keep you updated on the details of this second thrift store location for the Rescue Mission.

Another retailer joins the list of big box stores that are shutting down in the Roanoke Valley. As you've probably heard by now, Sportsman's Warehouse said today that its Roanoke store is one of 23 nationwide that will close.

There's no word yet on when the liquidation sale will start and what date these stores are expected to shut their doors for good.

I'm not certain that the closings are directly tied to dire economic times. Sportsman's Warehouse officials did not return my calls for comment about the reasons for the closings. The company's Web site only states that these stores will be liquidated to reduce bank debt.

The Roanoke Sportsman's Warehouse was short lived. It opened in November 2007 on Ferncliff Avenue, where the company built a large 48,000 square foot retail location, near Home Depot.

Check out Mark Taylor's Wild Life blog to find out more about Sportsman's Warehouse's support of local outdoors groups. And let him know what you think about this store, if you've shopped there.

I'll keep you updated as more news unfolds.

With the passing of landmark legislation to ban most smoking at Virginia's bars and restaurants, we likely will start seeing local eateries cut out smoking well before the law takes effect on Dec. 1.

Metro, a downtown Roanoke restaurant and bar, took those steps last month, ahead of the law's passage by both houses of the Virginia General Assembly.

Since last year, owner Andy Schlosser allowed smoking in Metro's bar area after 10 p.m. He surveyed his patrons' preferences before making that change.

But in mid-February, he decided to ban smoking at all times for two reasons. He wanted to be prepared for the passsage of the state law. And Metro started offering a late night bar menu in January.

"It had been our hopes not to have people eating and smoking," Schlosser said.

And the response to a smoke-free Metro: "Nothing but positive comments" from customers, Schlosser told me.

Click here to read the story about Gov. Tim Kaine's signing of this legislation yesterday.