July 31, 2008No Bonefish Grill?Good morning, blog readers! I have what is potentially disappointing news about a retail center under construction in Southwest Roanoke County. Thanks to a tip from one of you, I have been doing some follow-up reporting on the status of Keagy Village, a 16-acre center planned for the corner of Virginia 419 and Keagy Road. And it appears that a coveted chain restaurant might not be coming there. Bonefish Grill, a seafood eatery based in Florida, now says that it won’t be opening a location in Roanoke County. That’s according to Cynthia Glover, a spokeswoman for the chain. I’m not sure the reasons why this restaurant has reconsidered coming to Roanoke County. Glover said a Roanoke County site is not listed on the chain’s long-term opening plan, though she wouldn’t disclose that actual time period. A spokesman with Kahn Development, based in South Carolina, has not returned several calls for comment about Bonefish’s fate at Keagy Village. But if the restaurant indeed does not come, that could spell bad news for this planned retail center. Already coffee retailer Starbucks has slashed its plans to locate a drive-through there. And so far, no dominant anchor store has been announced for Keagy Village. Only one office tenant and a wireless retailer have confirmed plans to land there: Scottrade, a securities brokerage, and NTelos. Kahn Development has said that it expects Keagy Village to house 105,000 square feet of retail and 25,000 square feet of office space. July 29, 2008Back-to-college season is here, but spending will dropStocking up for college always was a fun time for me. I loved shopping for the latest lamps, pillows and other quirky furnishings for my dorm room. And now, you've probably started to see bright colored bean bags, bedding, cool clocks and lamps and trendy furniture on retailer’s shelves—now considered necessities for many college students as they prepare for life in the dorms or in apartments. But according to the National Retail Federation, college students or their parents won’t be spending as much this year on clothing and furnishings. Back-to-college spending is expected to drop 7 percent this year. On average, a person will spend $599.38 this year, compared with $641.56 last year. And college bookstores likely will feel the impact, along with clothing and other retailers, the association reports. “College students are learning a hard lesson that when economic times are tough, fun purchases take a back seat,” said NRF President and CEO Tracy Mullin, in a news release. Though expenditures will be down in some categories, the school supplies category should remain strong and increase, with the average student spending $68.37, up from $63.57 last year, the NRF reports. I also thought this finding was interesting: More students may commute to school this year, rather than living on campus or in an apartment. According to the NRF survey, 54.1 percent of college students plan to commute from their parents’ houses this year, which is up from 49.7 percent last year. July 28, 2008Expect some electronics to be tax freeHappy Monday afternoon. I'm back from vacation, and I hope your week was a good one. I found out a few more details about Virginia's upcoming sales tax holiday this weekend, and I wanted to pass them along to you. Wal-Mart and Circuit City are among the retailers that are planning to slash the sales tax on more than just school supplies and clothing. In Wal-Mart's Virginia stores, the retailer says it will eliminate the 5 percent tax on all electronics, such as computers, televisions, cameras and wireless devices. Also, as in previous years, Circuit City will make every item in its Virginia stores tax free. From Aug. 1 -3, the state is slashing the sales tax on a host of school supplies priced at $20 or less and apparel and shoes at $100 or less. It's a way to help consumers save and spend in preparation for the back-to-school season. But retailers have the option of absorbing the sales tax on items that are not already exempt. So, be on the lookout for these kinds of savings during the weekend. Apparently, Virginia consumers saved about $800,000 during last year's tax-free weekend at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores, according to Wal-Mart. Here's a link to more info on tax-exempt items in Virginia. July 25, 2008How long will you stand in line?We’ve talked about long lines at stores before, and I came across an interesting poll about line-waiting. It discusses how long customers will stand in line at a store before walking out. According to a poll by Maritz Research, people are more likely to leave a department store because of long waits than other retailers. Seventy-two percent of customers actually have left department stores because the lines were too long, according to the poll. But believe it or not, drugstores scored the lowest, with only 46 percent of customers choosing to leave because of a long line. The research states that it hurts certain retailers more than others if customers become frustrated with long waits. Here’s what Tom Krause, director of strategic consulting for Maritz Research’s Retail Group, had to say about this situation, in a news release. "Specialty clothing stores and department stores have significantly more to lose than most categories if they keep customers waiting longer than expected. Typically these stores are in malls or shopping centers where competitors are plentiful. Plus, among customers who have left due to long wait time, 25 percent say they have not been back to a particular specialty clothing store and 13 percent have not been back to a particular department store.” So, how long will you wait in line before giving up and leaving? For me, it depends on the store and how fast I want to get in and out. And how bad I want what I'm planning to buy! According to this poll, shoppers expect a longer wait at certain stores versus others. Here’s what it says: Respondents indicated that they expect to wait an average of 8.6 minutes at a drugstore, significantly more time than other categories. Mail/shipping service stores averaged 7.5 minutes, while department stores averaged 6.2 minutes, specialty clothing stores averaged 5.7 minutes and convenience stores averaged 3.3 minutes. The longest that I have ever stood in line at a store was 20 minutes and that was getting long! What about you? Can you think of the longest wait that you have had while shopping, and what’s your wait limit? July 24, 2008Bonus for pizza drivers?
Lately there have been news stories about how the high price of gasoline is deterring people from working for delivery businesses. Could this bonus be a way that Domino’s is trying to lure more employees, due to fuel cost challenges? It’s only a guess. I haven’t received a call back from a local Domino’s franchisee to explain this job advertisement. What do you think it means? July 23, 2008The latest on Bojangles'
Bojangles’ now has gone up on Peters Creek Road in Roanoke. The parking lot is the final detail to be completed, said Stan Seymour, the franchise owner. He’s also in the process of hiring employees. The fast food restaurant is several weeks away from opening, he said. But his other planned Bojangles’ location, set for Colonial and Brambleton avenues in Roanoke County, isn't moving as quickly. Seymour said construction should begin in the next several weeks, though the last time I caught up with him, he was hoping that the restaurant would be open by August. He has run into some challenges developing this site, which are reasons for the many delays. Seymour now says that this new Bojangles’ will be larger than he expected, measuring 4,800 square feet. He owns three Roanoke area Bojangles’ franchises. July 22, 2008Tax-free shopping is coming
A sales tax holiday is around the corner. From Aug. 1 to 3, Virginia and a host of other states will slash the sales tax on school supplies, apparel and other qualifying merchandise. This will be Virginia’s third sales tax holiday that coincides with the back-to-school season. For this three-day period, school supplies priced at $20 or less and apparel and shoes at $100 or less will be free of the state’s 5 percent sales tax at all stores. But retailers can choose to absorb the sales tax on items that don’t make the cut. For example, electronics retailer, Circuit City, made all merchandise in its stores tax-free last year. And remember, you don’t have to be shopping for school to get the discounts. Visit the Virginia Department of Taxation’s Web site for a list of tax-free items. So, I’m curious, have you saved any money during Virginia's last two back-to-school sales tax holidays? July 21, 2008Openings todayGood morning, blog readers. I’m away on vacation for the week, but you know the drill. You’ll find fresh retail news here each day, so keep reading. 
Puppy Love is located on the mall’s upper level, near Macy’s. Salon del Sol is in the District at Valley View, which is adjacent to the mall. Also, cotton lovers might be interested in a promotion at Valley View. Through Aug. 10, purchase $100 in cotton merchandise and you'll receive a free cotton sling bag. So, if you like the idea of a free bag, start searching out that cotton logo! Check out Valley View's Web site for more details.
July 18, 2008Family Dollar has been revampedFamily Dollars are looking more like grocery stores but without the mega selection. 
The changes are a push by this North Carolina-based discount retailer to appeal to consumers who are looking for convenience and basic goods, from paper products to certain foods. “In looking at how the economy has evolved since last October or November, we really put a focus on those consumable goods that people use every day,” Braverman said. For customers heading to the stores for quick trips, Family Dollars have shifted the placement of certain products to complement others, such as selling plates near the food section, Braverman said. The stores also now are accepting different electronic payments, including credit and debit cards and electronic benefit food stamps. And Family Dollar even is following environmental trends. Tomorrow as part of a celebration of its new look, its area stores, including six in the Roanoke Valley, will give away reusable grocery bags to the first 100 customers. Also, the first 50 people will receive $5 gift certificates. Certain stores discounts will last through Tuesday.
July 17, 2008Good news for local Starbucks fansLocal Starbucks fans can rest easy. Today, the coffee retailer published a list of 600 stores that it plans to close through the first half of next year. No Starbucks in the Roanoke and New River Valleys are on the chopping block. In fact, only five Starbucks across Virginia will close, based on the list. They are locations in Fredericksburg, Gainesville, Hampton, Newport News and Winchester. The states with the most Starbucks closures include California, Florida and Texas. Earlier this month, Starbucks announced plans to shutter 600 underperforming locations nationwide, after a decline in sales and earnings. To check out the full store list, click here. Your blasts revealedHere they are, your blasts from the past revealed. It’s been fun going down memory lane with so many of you in the last week, after you commented on your favorite restaurants or stores that no longer are in the Roanoke Valley or in your hometown. From pizza eateries to appliance stores, burger places and department stores, memories of past retailers sure do stay with us, don’t they? I liked hearing about features of certain malls and stores that you remember most, such as Tanglewood Mall’s French Quarter and the vanilla milkshakes at Allen’s Pharmacy. As far as trends in this informal survey, pizza restaurants were mentioned most often. Hamburger eateries followed. These stores and restaurants received more than one mention: And finally, if you care to reflect a little more, what makes a store or restaurant memorable? Any general key features or must haves, in your opinion? July 16, 2008Locally grown is the new grocery buzz wordIt’s no secret that more food retailers are trying to promote themselves as the primary source for local produce and other foods. Even large chains like Wal-Mart have jumped on the bandwagon and appear to be making progress. Here’s an interesting Wal-Mart Web site, highlighting what locally grown produce the retailer sells in which state. If you check out Virginia, you’ll see that from June through August, Wal-Mart is selling Virginia-grown broccoli, corn, cucumbers, green bell peppers, peaches, radishes and squash. And through October, the Virginia selections include yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant, and others. Wal-Mart claims that its selection of locally-grown produce is even larger than last year. One example is chili peppers. Apparently 65 Wal-Mart stores in Virginia are selling state-grown chili peppers, compared with zero last year. July 15, 2008Java the Hutt may pull later hours for hospital crowd
Employees who work evening and all-night shifts at the hospital probably crave a caffeine fix at some point during their work day. Bob Buckley, owner of Java the Hutt, said he’s hoping that the coffee shop will have later evening hours, though those hours aren't yet set. He’s awaiting a decision by hospital management that will spell out a specific time frame. Last month, a hospital employee commented on this blog that Jazzman's did not offer late enough hours to accomodate the night shifts. Buckley said he'll likely try out the later hours on a trial basis at first to see what traffic the shop draws during that time period. So, stay tuned. By the way, if you’re a hospital employee, what hours would you like the coffee shop to pull? July 14, 2008Spending tactics at the supermarketThanks for all of the great feedback about your memories of former restaurants and stores throughout the region. I’m compiling your contributions now to blog about this week, so keep reading. I’m working on a story about the region's grocery options, with the opening of Kroger’s newest store planned for July 24th in the Bonsack area. In some research, I found some tips directed at grocers about how they can encourage consumers to spend more. It’s according to a report by Unilever, called “Winning Shoppers in Turbulent Times.” So, lookout for these sales tactics the next time you’re at the supermarket. They may or may not entice you to spend more than you budgeted. 1) Create circulars built around whole meals. They resonate with shoppers who are budgeting and planning their menus. July 11, 2008No more iPhones at local AT&T storesEager for a new Apple iPhone? You won't find one at AT&T's company-owned stores in the Roanoke and New River valleys. These stores sold out of iPhones today, the first day they went on sale, said AT&T spokeswoman Beth Gautier. You'll have to check back in the next week, when the stores will receive fresh inventory, she said. Remember, if you use these new iPhones in Southwest Virginia, your Internet connection won't be as fast as connections in 300 metropolitan areas nationwide, where 3G technology is available. It's not available in Southwest Virginia, Gautier said. But the technology will be expanded to 350 total cities by the end of the year, so Southwest Virginia likely could have it by then, she said. What are your blasts from the past?I know you have them -- good or bad memories of stores and restaurants that no longer exist. For whatever reason, they closed, and they’re not coming back. For example, some people still are lamenting the loss of Hecht’s, which switched over to the Macy’s nameplate in 2006. I’ve heard from a number of shoppers who say they no longer can find their favored brands or style of apparel that only Hecht’s carried. As for me, a restaurant in Staunton, where I grew up, recently closed, and I’m still sad about it. It was the Pullman Restaurant, and it was built in a restored train station in the city’s historic downtown district, alongside the train tracks. Now to you. Comment here with your tales of stores or restaurants that once were in the Roanoke or New River valleys. I’ll blog about the ones with the most mentions. And speaking of retailers closing, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that some Starbucks locations already have been notified that they will close by the end of this month. Starbucks will release the complete store closure list next Tuesday. The coffee retailer plans to shut down 600 stores nationwide, though it has not yet identified all of the locations that will close. July 10, 2008Shula's 347 Grill will debut at the end of the yearCorrection: Shula's 347 Grill is set for the Roanoke Plaza Hotel, which formerly was the Wyndham Hotel. The hotel will become a Sheraton later this year. 
Shula's 347 Grill is headed for a first floor spot at what is now the Wyndham Hotel. But this hotel is in the process of becoming a Sheraton, according to Bill Herman, who is vice president of corporate development for Shula’s Steakhouses, based in Florida. Roanoke will be the 31st location nationally for Shula’s 347 Grill. Herman described this grill as a mid-tier restaurant, compared with the company’s other brands. The company’s high-end or fine dining concept is Shula’s Steak House. Shula’s has several different restaurant concepts, including Shula’s Steak House, Shula’s 2 Steak & Sports, Shula’s on the Beach and Shula’s 347 Grill. 
Some of you mentioned that you had dined at other Shula’s 347 Grills inside hotels. Herman said hotels are a niche location for this restaurant, though not all of the eateries are inside lodging properties. Shula’s was attracted to the Wyndham Hotel because of some renovations that are taking place at this Roanoke site, off Hershberger Road. "The hotel’s going to be one of the nicest hotels in Roanoke," Herman said. "They’re putting significant dollars in there." Oftentimes, Shula’s restaurants are used as meeting spots for corporate functions. The restaurant company seeks locations where there are a variety of businesses nearby, Herman said. I’ll keep you updated when I find out the new eatery's opening date in Roanoke. For its grand opening, Herman said to expect an appearance from Don Shula himself. Photos courtesy of Shula's Steakhouses July 9, 2008Steve & Barry's files for bankruptcySteve & Barry’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection today, according to this article in the Chicago Sun-Times. This is the retailer known for its celebrity-endorsed apparel, including Sarah Jessica Parker's "BITTEN" line It’s unclear how many stores could close as a result of Steve & Barry's apparent financial trouble. Locally, this retailer selling inexpensive shoes and largely casual apparel moved into Tanglewood Mall in 2006, taking over a 48,000 square feet space on the shopping center's upper level.
Shopping with your partner: Do you spend more?I like to analyze shopping habits. And if you and your significant other happen to shop together at all, you might find interesting a recent report on this topic. According to a poll in the upcoming September issue of ShopSmart, a consumer magazine, 38 percent of couples spend more money when they shop together, often making joint buying decisions. But if it comes down to one of them making the decision, women take charge. So, how does this relate to your shopping patterns? Do you spend more money when you shop with your partner? Here are some other interesting results from the report, which was conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center: --The majority of couples (84 percent) shop together at least sometimes, and 85 percent always or often stay together while at a particular store. If you agree or disgree with any of these findings, let me know about it and share your shopping stories, too.
July 8, 2008Bears and shoes at Valley View
Also at Valley View's Finish Line store, if you donate gently worn shoes, you can receive $5 off your purchase of a new pair of shoes at this store through July 31. It’s part of a shoe trade-in campaign with Soles4Souls, an international charity that donates free footwear to those in need. But you have to purchase shoes valued at $25 or more to get the discount. July 7, 2008Subway vs. StarbucksThis is an interesting story about Larry Feldman, who runs a company that owns more than 1,000 Subway franchises in Washington D.C. He's planning to open a Subway Café in Alexandria next month that will compete with Starbucks. Who knows if his new concept will trickle down to Southwest Virginia in the future. In the story, Feldman claims that business is steady at Subway shops despite the economy, because people will fork over $5 for a sandwich rather than dining at an upscale eatery. Do you think his explanation makes sense? Dressing like a cow has benefitsWelcome back here after a sunny Fourth of July. I hope you had an enjoyable long weekend. Related to my interview last week with Chick-fil-A’s Dan Cathy, one of you mentioned an upcoming promotion for this fast food chicken chain. So, if you are inclined to dress like a cow, here’s some more information about it. But the incentives depend on how willing you are to dress the part. If you wear a full cow costume, you get a free Chick-fil-A combo meal. If you dress partially as a cow, you receive a sandwich. Costumes in the past have ranged from cow-spotted T-shirts to full suits with cow bells and homemade sandwich boards. Chick-fil-A began using cows for marketing in 1995. Since then, the chain says its sales have jumped from $502 million to more than $2.64 billion in 2007. If you decide to dress up on Friday, send me pictures at jenny.boone@roanoke.com. July 4, 2008Fireworks prices are upHappy July 4th! Aside from these deals, a popular Fourth of July item has gone up in price. This year, you’re likely paying more for fireworks. Rising fuel costs and an explosion at some fireworks warehouses in China, which impacted supplies, are some reasons for price hikes across the country. Let me know if you've paid more for fireworks this year and if so, how much more. Happy holiday weekend! July 3, 2008Catching up with Chick-fil-A's Dan Cathy
I spoke with Cathy briefly about several topics, including Chick-fil-A's business principals, the economy and the speed of drive-through. Check out my interview with him below. Q: Many fast food restaurants have added $1 menus. Does Chick-fil-A plan to create this kind of menu? Q: How have rising food costs impacted Chick-fil-A? Q: What is the largest meal in sales volume a day at most Chick-fil-A’s? Continue reading "Catching up with Chick-fil-A's Dan Cathy" » Roanoke scoring Shula's 347 GrillHas you ever eaten at Shula’s 347 Grill? This restaurant chain was founded by Don Shula, a legendary NFL coach. And apparently, it is headed for Roanoke next year. I don't yet have details from the Florida-based company about this new location. Shula’s has several different restaurant concepts, including Shula’s Steak House, Shula’s 2 Steak & Sports, Shula’s on the Beach and Shula’s 347 Grill. Shula’s 347 Grill is named for Don Shula's 347 NFL wins, according to the company's Web site. These restaurants serve steaks, hamburgers, fish entrees and other menu fare. The closest Shula’s 347 Grill to the Roanoke Valley is in Norfolk. I’ll update you when I find out more details about this restaurant. July 2, 2008Starbucks closings to target stores opened since 2006
At this point, we don’t know if the closings will include Starbucks locations in the Roanoke and New River valleys. Starbucks has expanded rapidly here in the last few years. There are seven Roanoke Valley locations, including the mini stores inside a local Kroger and Ukrop’s Super Market. There are two in Blacksburg and one in Christiansburg. But in a statement released to me today by a public relations firm representing Starbucks, the coffee retailer said many of the closings will involve stores that opened since 2006. Here’s the statement: Details for specific locations are still being finalized. The stores identified for closure are spread across all major U.S. markets with approximately 70 percent of them opened since fiscal 2006. Out of respect and dignity for our partners, and our desire to share this information with impacted partners first, we are not publishing a full list of the stores. Starbucks will continue to evaluate all aspects of our business as we work to accomplish our multi-faceted plan to transform the company. We cannot offer any more specifics at this time. July 1, 2008New Kroger fuel center coming soonNext week is going to be a busy one for store openings around the Roanoke Valley. Here's another date to put on your calendar. The fuel center at the new Kroger, under construction in the Bonsack area, will open on July 9. This will be the fifth Kroger gasoline center in the Roanoke Valley. It's funny that this fuel center will open before Kroger actually opens its doors. Though the grocer hasn't stated an official store opening date, the fuel center is coming three weeks before the store will debut, according to a news release. Check out my retail column in this Sunday's Business section for updates on other stores that will land at this center, named Kroger Square at Bonsack and located off U.S. 460 in Roanoke County. Bedford Lowe's will open next weekLowe’s plans to open its doors in Bedford on July 8 at 7 a.m. This store is located off U.S. 460, near Wal-Mart. The new home improvement store will rise to 106,000 square feet, with an adjacent garden center. The retailer says it will stock 32,000 different items. You can support a good cause on July 10, which is the store’s grand opening. The festivities include a gift card match event. If you buy a Lowe’s gift card, the retailer will match your purchases up to $5,000, to support the Bedford Habitat for Humanity. |
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