Also, Hardee’s recently introduced its little thickburger, which is an alternative to the high- calorie thickburger. At 1/4 pounds, the little version is smaller than the regular 1/3 pound thickburger. The little thickburger also is cheaper, starting at $1.99, though prices vary at different locations.

Today, the owner, Amelia Goldacker, said there still is not a concrete date set for reopening. Goldacker and her husband, Gary, own Fast Freddy’s and also Roanoke Bagel Co.

They have closed Fast Freddy’s on West Main Street, because Amelia Goldacker’s mother moved in with the family, she said. The Goldackers still are working on whether it is “feasible” to reopen, Amelia Goldacker said.

A national health club chain, Anytime Fitness, is planning a November or December opening at the Kroger Square at Bonsack in Roanoke County. I’ve reported about this fitness club’s local arrival, but I recently found out some more details about it.

Dwight Ward, the former manager at Gold’s Gym in Southwest Roanoke County, is the franchise owner of Anytime Fitness.

Ward, who has a private personal training business, said he wanted to run a smaller health club with a philosophy that is different from mega fitness centers.
“I wanted something a little bit smaller, a little less intimidating,” he said.

Anytime Fitness, set for a 4,200 square foot space, is an adult-only club. It houses cardio equipment, free weights and weight machines. The Bonsack gym also will have a tanning salon.

And its doors never close, at least to members. Members receive a key to the facility, and there is video surveillance at all hours, Ward said. Also, the club offers panic buttons for members to wear. The press of a button rings the local police department.

Pre-sales for memberships already have begun. Click here for more information about the Bonsack health club. I'll let you know when a specific opening date is announced.

Aaron’s Corporate Furnishings has filled up a storefront beside Natural Market by Nature’s Outlet, adjacent to Valley View Mall, with discounted living room, bedroom and dining room furnishings. Since Tuesday, the retailer has been selling furniture previously used in local short-term corporate apartments. So, it's likely that the tables, chairs and sofas aren't too worn out.

Aaron’s Corporate Furnishings has one store in Roanoke. It’s a division of Aaron Rents, a national furniture rental chain.

In other furniture news, it appears that Ashley Furniture is following through with its promise to deliver back-ordered furnishings to Roanoke area customers. The company's Roanoke store closed last month.

Check out today’s story for more details.

You can use up to 10 fuel saver reward discounts per fuel fill-up. And you do not only have to spend $100 on food to get the savings. It also applies to gift card purchases at Kroger.

Kroger isn’t the only grocer with a fuel savings program. Other stores nationwide, including Ukrop’s Super Market’s Richmond stores, are offering discounts at partnering gas stations that correspond to the amount spent at the grocery store.

Here’s a story about what other grocery chains are doing to promote shopping and gas savings across the country.

There are seven Kroger fuel centers in the Roanoke and New River valleys. The grocer is planning a new gas station at Towers Shopping Center in Roanoke. But Carl York, a spokesman for Kroger, said he did not have updates on when this new center will open.

Lately, grocery retailers, including Ukrop’s Super Market and Save-A-Lot stores in Roanoke, have been working quickly to create signs or print labels to strategically place on or near meats, nuts and produce. They now must note food shipments as the items arrive from around the world, changing signage and labels accordingly.

For U.S. foods, labels state “Product of U.S.A.”

But you won’t find these labels on all required foods immediately. It only applies to products packaged after Sept. 30. And retailers and suppliers have a six-month grace period as they roll out this new information.

Click here for more details about country of origin labeling.

Each year, it seems that stores roll out their holiday merchandise a little earlier than the previous year. Sometimes, it's really not much earlier, but it may seem that way.

By the second week of next month, Wal-Mart will start filling the shelves in its Christmas shop. The full line-up, including toys, will be in stores by Nov. 8.

For more examples of how other retailers are pushing this gift-giving season, read this story.

What holiday items have you seen lately at local stores?

“Fuel your family for less than a gallon of gas” states a card, placed strategically above the $1.19 frozen Totino’s pepperoni pizzas.

Also, during an interview recently, the co-owner of a local Merle Norman store compared the cost of shipping a package of make up with the price of a gallon and a half of gas. She explained that her store's shipping orders have increased in the last year because sending make up and skin care products by mail is cheaper for some customers who live out of the area. They'd rather pay for shipping than for fuel.

In case you’re wondering how gas prices are looking right now, check out the daily fuel gauge report. The average price of a gallon of regular gas in the Roanoke Valley was $3.73 today, which is up from $2.73 a year ago.

Valley View Mall:
Think pink and dress like it. The Positively Pink Parade to benefit the Every Women’s Life Program begins bright and early at 8 a.m. at the District at Valley View, which is adjacent to Valley View Mall. Every Women’s Life provides cancer screening and diagnostic services to uninsured or underinsured women.
Parade participants dressed in crazy pink garb will take a lap about the mall’s outer loop. There will be prizes for the best dressed parade participants. You can register through 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning at the parade. Click here for more details.

New River Valley Mall:
With hay wagon rides, pony rides, amusements and concessions, the Community Fall Festival will be held at the New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year’s event will feature a bike rodeo sponsored by the Christiansburg Police Department and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Here is a 2007 Consumer Reports blog article with a few more details about Direct Buy, including the membership fees charged at some New York clubs last year.

Direct Buy says that its items are less expensive than at mainstream retailers because they are sold directly from the manufacturer. That means the products do not have mark-up fees attached to them.

Brock Wilson, co-owner of the local Direct Buy, would not reveal the cost of a membership. Instead, he encouraged interested consumers to schedule an open house appointment to learn all of the necessary information. That includes finding out the membership fees.

People with a Direct Buy membership from another location still can shop at the Roanoke County store. Direct Buy has more than 160 locations in the United States and Canada.

Wilson and his wife first became Direct Buy members when they lived in Chicago, prior to their move to the Roanoke Valley in 2001.

On some days, Direct Buy's doors open later than traditional retailers. On Tuesday through Thursday, its hours are 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, the store opens from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Sunday and Monday.

This is a fundraising event benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation at Cold Stone locations nationwide. You’ll be able to choose from ice cream concoctions created by two of the foundation’s sponsored children. They were developed using two Cold Stone ice cream flavors: Nutter Butter and Marshmallow.

One ice cream treat combines Nutter Butter ice cream, yellow cake, KitKats and white chocolate chips. The other mixes Marshmallow ice cream, Oreo cookies, chocolate chips and fudge.

If these creations sound good to you, they are free to all from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the Cold Stone shop on Franklin Street in Christiansburg. Donations will be accepted for the Make-A-Wish cause, which grants wishes to children who have life-threatening medical conditions.

Agnew’s wife, Pat Agnew, said the store will have limited hours for now, opening on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Agnew Seed sells a variety of seed products and gardening equipment, including organic gardening supplies, prepackaged seeds, garden tools, decorations and Virginia peanuts. On its Web site, it’s already marketing its spring 2009 seed selection.

Agnew Seed has been operated by extended family members since 1897.

The city said today that these businesses will not reopen until all are properly cleaned and the health department can give the restaurants the go-ahead. City officials don't know when the building will reopen for dining. In the meantime, be prepared to scout out other eateries for dining in downtown Roanoke.

Check www.roanoke.com today and tomorrow as more details unfold.

Also, on an unrelated subject, but one that is somewhat close to home, read this story about the status of Circuit City, which is based in Richmond. The chief executive officer of the electronics retailer has resigned, as the company initiates a turn- around effort. Circuit City is considering whether to sell the company in the midst of financial troubles and declining business at its stores.

There is one Roanoke area Circuit City store, located near Valley View Mall.

On the hospital’s lobby level, Java the Hutt has taken over the former Jazzman's spot. And at Virginia Western, you’ll find the coffee retailer’s new kiosk in the student center.

Java the Hutt also is making plans to open a larger shop, serving coffee and related beverages, muffins and desserts, in Virginia Western’s commons area. Bob Buckley, the owner of this local enterprise, said he’s working on architectural plans for the space, but it likely will not open until the spring semester.

Java the Hutt operates several coffee drive-throughs throughout the Roanoke Valley. Buckley and his wife, Mary, started the business in 1994.