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It's more common these days to see men wearing pink ties, but what about bright fuchsia kitchens and hotel buildings? Bold color apparently is in this year, and if it's pink, it's likely going to be a hit.

This fall, fuchsia is one of the leading hues in men and women's clothing. The bright color also is showing up in unlikely places, such as on buildings and in interior design schemes, according to this Wall Street Journal story.

In apparel, fashion designers think that this kind of bold color will make consumers feel more optimistic about the economy, therefore encouraging them to spend. Black, gray and brown shades don't necessarily evoke optimism, states the story.

Neon orange and yellow also are joining the hot pink color lineup.

I'm typically a color-driven consumer. What about you?

UPDATE: For more information about the Roanoke Weiner Stand's closing and news of a tax lien against the business, read the story in Friday's newspaper.

A well-known hot dog restaurant has shut down one of its Roanoke locations. The Roanoke Weiner Stand on Brandon Avenue is closed, according to a sign posted on its front door.

Here's what the sign says:

"Thank you for all of your support over the years. We are closing May 27, 09. Please visit our downtown location."

I haven't yet been able to reach the owner, Gus Pappas. Employees at the weiner stand's downtown Roanoke location on Campbell Avenue say they are clueless about why the Brandon Avenue restaurant has closed.

Warm weather has arrived, and this is the time of year when we're likely to see more deals on ice cream, my favorite dessert.

So, you might want to mark your calendars for an ice cream give-away this Saturday. Wal-Mart stores nationwide are hosting an ice cream party. These stores will be providing select free frozen treats from many brands, including Blue Bunny, Ben & Jerry's, Breyers and Klondike.

The party takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in 2,000 Wal-Mart Super centers nationwide, and this mega discount retailer estimates that it will give out 1 million frozen treats.

Also, Wal-Mart claims to have the scoop on American's favorite ice cream flavors. Here are the top favorite flavors:

Vanilla

Chocolate

Butter Pecan

Mint Chip

Neapolitan

Click this link for more info on the free ice cream party.

Also, in other frozen treat news, click here to read about a franchisee's plans to bring three Rita's Water Ice locations to the Roanoke Valley. I wrote about this in last Sunday's retail roundup column, in case you missed it. Rita's sells numerous cool treats, from Italian ice to frozen custard.

Have you ever tried a Rita's Water Ice treat? If so, what did you think about it?

It's back to the daily grind after the long Memorial Day weekend. I hope your holiday was enjoyable.

Memorial Day seems to mark the start of grilling season and warm evenings spent lounging on patio chairs.

There's an unlikey newcomer to the outdoor furnishings scene, just as the warm weather returns and many people (including myself) are on the hunt for new patio furniture.

It's Best Buy.

This mega electronics retailer is getting into the outdoor furniture business and joining the wave of big box retailers that are trying to be many things to many different shoppers. Now at Best Buy, you can find firepits, pergolas, grills, tables, chairs and more.

But only select Best Buys in California are selling this furniture and equipment in stores, according to this news story. Most of the items can be purchased on Best Buy's Web site.

These outdoors offerings aren't necessarily inexpensive. For example, a white pergola sells for $3,199.99, while a wicker cushioned loveseat is $1,263.99. A 1500 watt infrared heater is $375.99 and a brown french colonial style gas lantern is $319.99.

This article discusses whether or not Best Buy should be testing these new product categories. The retailer also is selling fitness equipment, musical instruments and electric scooters.

What do you think?

Wal-Mart's electronics departments across the country, including the stores in this region, are getting a facelift. Have you noticed the changes?

By next week, you'll begin to see a wider assortment of Blu-ray movies and players, including a sound and sight area focused on high definition, inside these stores. Also, there will be more variety in HD televisions, and a 30 percent increase in wireless products and accessories, along with a remodel of the Wireless World areas. Stores also will have a separate laptop computer area.

This redesign appears to already have begun at the Wal-Mart near Valley View Mall in Roanoke. The aisles are wider, there are additional televisions lining the back wall, and bright blue signs throughout the department are larger and eye catching.

Though Wal-Mart likely has several reasons for revamping its electronics offerings and presentation, a recent story in the Wall Street Journal speculates that this giant discount retail chain is trying to make up where Circuit City left off and put itself in a strong position to compete with Best Buy.

Circuit City closed its stores nationwide in March.

If you're in an area Wal-Mart this weekend or next week, let me know what you think of the electronics revamping efforts.

Here are some of the new items coming to Wal-Mart's jazzed-up electronics mix, according to a news release from the retailer:

--Dell's Studio One 19 All-in-one touch screen desktop, arriving in June.

--New protectors for mobile and music items, such as the Body Glove, which protects a touch screen phone.

--Colorful 11-inch Acer netbooks ($298)

--Sony's E-Reader E-book, available in 500 stores

I have news about some work going on near Kroger's store in Rocky Mount, after several of you inquired via this blog and elsewhere about what's going on at this site off U.S. 220.

Soon, a Kroger fuel center will go up adjacent to its store at 400 Old Franklin Turnpike.

Kroger spokesman Carl York told me today that the new fuel center should open for business by mid to late July. It will be a 10-lane gasoline center also selling diesel fuel.

Kroger's bringing a fuel center to Rocky Mount because this store is located off the "heavily traveled" U.S. 220 corridor, York said.

There's another Kroger fuel center planned for West Main Street in Salem. Click here to read my blog post about it.

Once the Rocky Mount gasoline station is complete, Kroger will have eight fuel centers in the Roanoke Valley.

Going-out-of business sales begin today for a Henrico County-based menswear chain with two locations in the Roanoke and New River valleys.

S&K Famous Brands will close its remaining 105 stores nationwide, after a federal bankruptcy judge approved the retailer's request to liquidate its assets. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankrupcy in February. A slow retail environment and the economy are some of the reasons for its demise, according to this story in the Richmond Times Dispatch.

There is one S&K Menswear store in Roanoke County on Electric Road, near Tanglewood Mall. The retailer also has a store in Christiansburg on North Franklin Street.

S&K already has closed numerous stores, including a location near Valley View Mall in Roanoke in January.

A news release states that all merchandise at S&K is discounted up to 50 percent. Also,  existing S&K gift cards will be honored.

The chain was founded in 1967. It's the second Richmond-area based retailer to shut down. Circuit City closed its stores in March.

Want to save on your restaurant bill? Don't order an appetizer. Or salad. Or soup.

This has become the mantra for more consumers during tight economic times, according to a recent survey by food industry firm, Technomic. Of the 40 percent of people who used to order appetizers with their restaurant meal, only 24 percent are ordering them now.

The same is true for salads. About 51 percent of diners ordered a salad in 2007. That number dropped to 33 percent in 2009. Soup numbers are dwindling as well.

"To justify spending on items from the left side of the menu, they [consumers] want more value--dishes with unique flavors they can't make at home, or are large enough to share or eat as an entree," said Darren Tristano, an executive vice president at Technomic,  in a news release.

Being healthy tends to drive the decision to order a salad, based on this Technomic survey of more than 4,500 diners. Salads are most popular at lunchtime, when 66 percent of people will order a salad, compared with 63 percent at dinner.

I don't typically order appetizers, but I like salads with my meals. Still, lately, I've been choosing entrees that include the salad in the price, rather than paying for it separately.

Two for one deals. Free hotel nights and spa treatments. Shorter lines.

Need a vacation? Even while the nation's recession continues, it apparently is a great time to visit your dream vacation spot, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.

Travel deals abound this year as businesses try to fill up cruise ships and hotel rooms, enticing people to travel and spend.

AAA Mid-Atlantic, based in Richmond, claims that people are waiting later this year to book vacations because of fears of job losses and general economic concerns. As people wait, the bargains are getting better.

Still, you may want to act now if you want a super vacation deal. Travel rates likely will creep higher this summer, AAA Mid-Atlantic says.  The deadlines for landing the lower rates, such as cruise specials and dining packages, are creeping up.

So, are you getting a super deal on a vacation this year?

Here are a few examples of the latest low-rate travel packages, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic:

1) Cruises: Some cruise rates are less than $100 per day per person. For example, Panama Canal Cruises (Celebrity Cruises) are $69 per person per day for bookings made in May for fall sailing dates.

2) Disney: Walt Disney World Resort vacation packages are offering free Disney dining plans. You have to book by June 21 for travel starting in August.

3) Las Vegas: Nightly rates are $86 at the Paris Las Vegas Casino Resort if you book a trip by May 30 for travel this year. Also, if you stay four nights at this rate, you'll get the fifth night free.

Last week's mini earthquake in the Roanoke Valley probably made many of us realize that Southwest Virginia isn't shielded from the potential for a natural disaster.

For preparedness sake, the state wants to make sure that Virginians are stocked up on necessary supplies in case a hurricane or flood strikes. Next week is Virginia's second sales tax holiday for hurricane supplies.

From May 25 through May 31, certain items will be free of the state's 5 percent sales tax. They include flashlights, bottled water, batteries, food and beverage storage coolers and a host of other items.

Most of these supplies must be $60 or less to get the tax exemption.  And portable generators and inverters should be priced at $1,000 or less. Click here for the full list.

Also, look for some retailers to absorb the sales tax on merchandise that's not on this list.