Former Roanoker buys Keagy Village
The Keagy Village retail complex in Roanoke County. Stephanie Klein-Davis | The Roanoke Times
A Charlotte investor who went to elementary school at Oak Grove Elementary has purchased Keagy Village.
My colleague Matt Chittum reports that the center has several prospective tenants, including national and local restaurants, retailers and a grocery store.
The shopping center went into foreclosure earlier this year. The bank that helped finance the center bought the center at auction.
Read more on the new owner and his plans here.
What do you think would help make Keagy Village a success?
November 20, 2012 - 2:17 PM
They need to give Kroger some competition in that area so why not try to land a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods. They could also try to land a World Market as their major anchor store, any of those would be welcome businesses in the Roanoke and surrounding area.
I would also love to see a Trader Joe’s come to our area. I would also love to see a bakery that focuses on baked goods from different cultures like those found in our northern cities. A microbrewery would also find success there. How about all three???
Two words: Harris Teeter. A very good location, not in direct proximity to Fresh Market, with a good transit road from I-81 (Electric Road). It should be a no-brainer for HT to put a store there.
Trader Joe’s would be perfect there!! I hope the new owner can actually get some new tenants.
Anchor store needed badly there. Zero foot traffic. My wishlist: Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Wegmans, Fresh Market, PF Changs,
Trader Joe’s as an anchor. Wouldn’t mind a wine and cheese bistro, or creperie.
Oh My Gosh…. what wonderful news to hear that Keagey Village has been sold!!! I am so excited!
Wow, Trader Joe’s would be fantastic!! How about Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel!! Roanoke desperately needs a store like that!
How about Anthropology? Roanoke is screaming out for some upscale stores!! This location is perfect for stores like this!!!
How about a Jo-Ann Fabrics or some specialty shops such as a quilt shop?
H-T may be blocked by their exchange of stores with Kroger a few years back. I have heard that for some time, but no one can verify it. I would think if HT wanted back in this area, they would have made a go at Ukrops. Trader Joe’s and Bonefish would be on my wish list.
I can’t imagine any grocery store that would set up shop there. Certainly not TJ’s or Wegmans, there’s no street view and the parking lot is tiny & convoluted. They will end up with an Applebees or something equally generic.
How about a Baker’s Crust – nice restaurant.
A Bonefish Grill would be awesome!
it really doesn’t matter what stores you put there…the place is a nightmare to navigate, the parking lots are small, and basically there is nothing you could put there to salvage the poorly designed property layout.
A fine dinning restaurant would be nice.
How about incentive grants for local retail? If the development was purchased for a low price that would allow the margin, the purchaser could set aside $100,000 in seed money for small, unique stores perhaps with an outdoor focus or organic goods. He could be like his own econ dev office and attract more than another chain store.
Was told several years ago by an experienced commercial developer that Keagy site simply doesn’t have enough rooftops around it to support the development. Also Roanoke’s demographics simply don’t support most of the chains listed above. Data drives retail and restaurant chains.
Trader Joes
TENANTS! They just need tenants! A decent restaurant would be great, and maybe a unique retail store to pull in some cars/shoppers. Each new place will bring in at least some additional traffic, and it could start to build from there. Many of the names listed above would be great, but they are mostly places who don’t have Roanoke on their “radar.” Several months ago my wife and I drove all through Keagy Village. It was the first time we’d done so and we were amazed at how nice it is and looks! Not knowing about the financial issues, foreclosure, auction, etc., we were shocked that the place wasn’t full of tenants! Think of how many cars pass there each day, and there is a traffic light to get in/out. We wondered if the place was jinxed or something! Apparently it was… I’m excited about this news, maybe (hopefully!) this new person will be able to get something going. I wish him the best of luck!
@ok dokey – SWCO average salary is one of the highest in the region. And if you don’t think people from the NRV and extended wouldn’t make a trip to a place like Whole Foods you are mistaken.
upscale retail needed. Pottery Barn, William Sonoma and Bananna Republic would all be a good fit. Bone fish come back!!! HT WOULD BE GREAT. ANYTHING IS BETTER THEN kROGER!! go kEAGY!! now lets get ivy market going come on roanoke!!!!!!!!! WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT amanda!!
@bryan no doubt..however..WF requires 200,000 people within 20 minute drive http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company-info/real-estate..
Chains have criteria…they don’t bend to emotion.
wrong wrong wrong ok Dokey. WF in C’Ville and no way they have 200 plus dude!!
We need a good restaurant over here. But until they knock the rent down, I imagine it will stay vacant!
I am so grateful that Keagy Village has been purchased. Being a Keagy,and knowing the history of the name, it is nice to see that it has a bright future. Keagy was very prominent in the raid on Harpers Ferry.
I would love to see Trader Joe’s,Bonefish Grill, Starbucks,or Moe’s southwest grill.