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We've had many discussions on this blog about how our restaurant spending habits have changed because of economic pressures and increased efforts to save money.

For more on how the economy is impacting local restaurants and consumers, be sure to read this story in today's Roanoke Times written by myself and food writer Lindsey Nair.  We've detailed how some local eateries are making siginificant changes and offering deals to draw more diners to their restaurants. We also interviewed local consumers about how their dining out habits have changed.

In other restaurant news, Kentucky Fried Chicken is making some big changes to its menu to lift slowing sales and attract health conscious consumers. The large fast food chicken chain is introducing Kentucky Grilled Chicken at its eateries nationwide. Check out this story for more details.

This is a risky step, since KFC has built a name based on its fried chicken. Do you think its new grilled chicken will be popular?

Book lovers, here's some retail news worth reading. A mega book retailer has found a use for the large, former Circuit City storefront off Valley View Boulevard in Roanoke.

Giant Book Sale moved into this approximately 33,000 square foot space last week. Here you'll find every kind of new book imaginable, from children's selections to books on tape, fiction and cookbooks.

Giant Book Sale LLC, based in Knoxville, Tenn., opens these stores across the country. The owners buy overstock books straight from publishers.  But the selections may not be the newest versions. You might find last year's No. 1 bookseller on the shelves, rather than the most current edition, said Jeff Shaw of Galax, a co-owner of the company.

The prices are a steal. Hardcover books are $4 and paperbacks are $2.

If you want to check out this super book store, don't wait too long. Typically, Giant Book Sale signs three month leases. The store will be in Roanoke through late June or early July.

Shaw told me it could stay longer, depending on sales activity and if another retailer eventually moves into its space.

Giant Book Sale is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

Are you a dollar store shopper? These discount retailers sell a hodge podge of items, from kids toys to paper towels, canned goods and wrapping paper, for several bucks or $1 each.

One of the best deals, in my opinion, are 50 cent greeting cards at some of these local stores. It's hard to beat that price.

According to this news story, one of these discount chains, Family Dollar, is thriving during this recession. It's no surprise, given the many consumers who are trying to scrimp and save money on necessities and household goods.

Also, as consumers flock to Family Dollar, the North Carolina-based retailer is increasing its food selection. According to the article, the company is introducing 250 new food items, such as Double Stuff Oreos and Triscuits.

Family Dollar has six Roanoke Valley stores and four in the New River Valley.

So, have you found any great deals at local dollar store chains? Share your finds.

Today is April 15, the national tax filing deadline.

To bring a little joy to Tax Day, some restaurants are giving away ice cream and gift cards for food and drinks.

Here are the details about two local Tax Day freebies:

MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery: Win a free single scoop serving of ice cream today, which the chain calls its "e-cone-omic ice cream stimulus package."

T.G.I. Friday's: Diners today will receive $5 Bonus Bites gift cards to be used for beverage and food purchases, excluding alcohol, valued at $15 to $25. Those who spend more than $25 will receive $10 gift cards. Members of the restaurant chain's frequent customer program also will get double points this month.

If you've heard of other local Tax Day freebies, let me know about them.

Hi, blog readers! I'm back from a spring vacation in Florida, and I'm still adjusting to Virginia's frigid temperatures, compared with the Sunshine State. 

Thanks for your lively commentary on the blog while I've been gone. From the discussion last week, many of you have strong opinions about the service at local Bojangles' restaurants and whether it is cost effective nowadays to tote children along for a dinner out.

Moving on to more retail news this week, it looks as if Roanoke and New River Valley Starbucks locations again have escaped the chopping block.

Starbucks has published a list of its locations nationwide that will close this year. The global coffee giant announced in late January that it would close 200 underperforming U.S. locations. These actual stores now are disclosed.

This news is in addition to a July announcement that 600 Starbucks would close. Again, no Roanoke and New River Valley Starbucks were included in this list.

Here's Starbucks' news release from January about the closings.

Also, click here to read the latest Starbucks closing list. It shows that five total Starbucks are slated to shut down in Virginia.

The Staunton Starbucks is the closest location to our region that will be closing.

Happy Friday to you all. As the week ends, here are some newsworthy developments about two local stores.

Silver Lining: Silver Lining in Salem is closing its doors.  All items are discounted up to 50 percent at this home furnishings, decor and gift shop on West Main Street. The going-out-of-business sale includes display merchandise and fixtures.

Silver Lining will close at end of May, states an advertisement for the sale.

I don't know the reason for the closing. Linda Coulter, the owner, was unavailable to comment. She opened the shop in 2007 as a way to sell some items from her work as an appraiser in the estate sales business.

Pink: Pink, a women's clothing boutique in Southwest Roanoke County, soon will sell consignment clothing, shoes, handbags, furniture and home accessories.

This Electric Road shop is accepting items for consignment, building up its collection before the merchandise officially debuts.  That date hasn't yet been announced.

Last year, owner Michelle Jackson relocated Pink to its current space at 4097 Electric Road from West Village, a retail center in Roanoke County.

Trying to cut back your restaurant dining budget? A March survey by the NPD Group, a market research firm, found that the number of restaurant visits in 2008 that included children declined three percent.

The report found that more adults are dining out without their children to cut costs. Traffic from children younger than 13 years old decreased for both quick service and full service restaurants last year, particularly at suppertime.

The average size of a restaurant party with children is more than twice as large as parties with only adults, according to the NPD Group. Also, meals costs are nearly $8 higher when the kids come along.

What about you? Are you dining out more often without your children to save money?

It's not hard to miss signs of new restaurant life on Brambleton Avenue in Southwest Roanoke County, near the intersection of Colonial Avenue. Grading work finally has begun to make way for a new Bojangles' restaurant, planned to go up at this intersection since at least 2004.

Stan Seymour, a local Bojangles' franchisee, opened his fourth Roanoke area Bojangles' last year on Peters Creek Road in Roanoke County.

His newest Bojangles' in Southwest Roanoke County should open in September or October, he said. Seymour told me that a retaining wall soon will go up on this property. Challenging site work has slowed progress on this new fast food restaurant, he said.

Seymour expects construction of the actual Bojangles' building to start in late June. The new fast food eatery, his fifth area franchise, will measure 3,800 square feet, and it will have a drive-through.

Seymour's also preparing a land parcel beside Bojangles' to house another business. He said a bank easily could fit on this site, but plans for the space aren't final.

Hey, everyone! I'm on vacation for the rest of this week. But you'll find fresh news here each day, so keep checking back.

Today, I thought it prudent to talk about frequent-shopper cards. These are the discount cards that you can sign up for at many chain retailers nowadays, not just the grocery store.

You can deem some pretty decent savings with these value cards from free movies to rebates on in-store and online purchases. An article in a recent edition of ShopSmart Magazine gave a rundown of frequent shopper cards with the best deals.

Here are some of them:

AMC Theaters: Earn two points for every movie ticket you buy; redeem 10 points for a small popcorn or 30 points for a free movie ticket.

CVS Pharmacy/Extra Care: Get a 2 percent rebate on every in-store and online purchase; receive $1 Extra Buck for every two prescriptions filled; receive discounts on items featured weekly.

PetSmart/PetPerks: Receive coupons, monthly exclusive online offers; discounts on some in-store items.

Regal Cinemas/Regal Crown Club: Get 1 point for every dollar spent on tickets and extra credit for concessions; redeem 50 points for a small popcorn or 150 points for one free admission.

Staples/Staples Rewards: Get 10 percent rebate on ink, toner, paper and copy and print services.

Toys "R"Us/Rewards "R" Us: Receive a $5 gift certificate for every $150 spent during select promotion periods, plus other discounts.

I've racked up some great discounts with my CVS Extra Care card.

If you use frequent shopper cards, let me know which ones have saved you money and offered the best deals.

A new restaurant opens its doors today in downtown Roanoke.

It's the Midtown Picnic Club at 135 W. Campbell Ave., the former space of Orange Dog and Star City Cafe & Coffee. The new eatery serves lunch and dinner, with a menu of largely picnic fare foods, such as fried chicken, baked beans and country fried steak.

Here's my March 15 retail column with details about Midtown.

Midtown is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. for dinner, Monday through Friday.

Thomas Gardner, the restaurant's owner, also owns Orange Dog, a hot dog stand, at Towers Shopping Center in Roanoke.

Along with a unique menu and Starbucks iced drinks, Midtown will hold drawings for upscale picnic baskets every four to six weeks.