Looking back at the year’s top retail stories
As this year comes to end I decided to look back at all the retail happenings in the Roanoke and New River valleys.
We saw the sale of two troubled shopping centers (First and Main and Keagy Village), buildings come down and new ones go up, the opening of the first grocery store downtown in years, and continuing trends such as the frozen yogurt craze, as well as some new trends such as cash mobs.
As I set out to write a Retail Roundup column on the year’s top retail stories, please help me by letting me know which stories top your list, and why. I’ve listed some stories to get you started, but the list isn’t inclusive (or in any particular order). If there is something you feel is missing (or perhaps something you don’t think should be included) please let me know in a comment.
- Keagy Village, first when a bank bought it at auction, and more recently when it was sold to a North Carolina developer.
- The closure of two Food Lion stores.
- The remodel of the Roanoke and Christiansburg Target stores.
- The developments in Wasena, from the River House and its restaurant and climbing gym, to plans for East Coasters to move into the old transportation museum.
- Cook Out’s expansion into Roanoke and Rocky Mount.
- The opening of S & W Market , a grocery store at 16 West Marketplace in downtown Roanoke.
- The closure and reopening of the Roanoke Weiner Stand for the ongoing renovations at Center in the Square.
- The arrival of the cash mobs in Christiansburg and Roanoke.
- JC Penney’s ongoing changes causing consumer complaints.
- Construction of Steak ‘n Shake begins after more than a year of delays.
- Flat Rock Grille and Texas Steakhouse are demolished to make room for a hotel.
- The continuing expansion of frozen yogurt shops in the area.
- Salem Chick-fil-A opening.
- First and Main Shopping Center in Blacksburg gets a new owner.
- Ulta Beauty opening at Valley View Mall.
- Five Guys Burgers and Fries opening in Roanoke and Christiansburg.
- Plow and Hearth’s opening at Valley View Mall.
- Ginger’s Jewelry reopening.
- Roanoke Natural Food Co-op announces plans to open a second store.
Reader additions:
- Growth at Towers Shopping Center (Mirko Pasta, Tuesday Morning, Smoothie King.)
- Closure of restaurants, many because they were struggling with high food prices in a poor economy (Arzu, Norbertos, Big Lick BBQ, Little Chef, Isaac’s, Horizon Bar and Grill, Tudor’s, Blue Collar Joe’s)
- Support of and protests against Chick-fil-A’s endorsement of traditional marriage
December 14, 2012 - 5:00 AM
It’s a shame that Rocky has to clean this mess up, but I...
I would put the continued growth at Towers (Tuesday Morning, Mirko Pasta, Smoothie King) on the list.
But more than openings, I would list the closures of popular and/or long-time restaurants even higher for 2012 (Arzu, Norbertos, Henry’s Memphis BBQ/Big Lick BBQ, Pit Boss BBQ, etc.)
@RP: Good ideas. I’ll add those to the list. The closures of several restaurants this year is definitely important to note.
What about the support of/protests against Chick-fil-A’s endorsement of traditional marriage?
How about Sport Clips Haircuts opening in Hunting Hills Plaza?
Of those listed above, I think the top stories reflect the varied challenges of retail & food service in the RoVa. For that reason, I’d list the Roanoke Weiner Stand story – because it reflects the intransigence of so many Roanoke entities in dealing with stores and restaurants. The new stores coming in at Towers – because of the innovation and cooperation of the Towers management and the variety of the businesses. The trends of dining options in the area – both from the ethnic alternatives and the many closures of so many restaurants due primarily to customer apathy.
Those would be the ones I’d choose. On another topic, seeing the mention above – I’ve not seen anything reported on the cash mobs that began earlier this year. It would be really interesting to see someone revisit the sites of the cash mobs from earlier this year. You could report on what percentage of revenue & sales growth this year has resulted since the cash mobs, and on the changes in merchandising philosophy that have resulted as well.
@crooked road: Thanks for your input. I like your idea about talking to the stores that were mobbed. I have talked with the owner of Tinnell’s, which was mobbed, and he told me they saw a lot of new faces in the store afterward.
It amazes me how many restaurants and food shops continue to be opened in a market this size. Second to that are the motels and hotels that pop up. Is there an economic trend in all of this I am missing. Lots of brave investment and borrowing souls in a still shaky economy. Wish em well!
My wife and I had dinner at Surf N Turf Grill on Grandin tonight and they had notes in the menus that 12/24 will be the last day. We are sad to see them go, and at the same time I wish we would have dined there more often than we did. We have a little over a week left to give them a good send off, so I plan on going back at least one more time.
The hotel market in Roanoke is stronger than ever. Actually never went anywhere. The city can rely on hotels being sold out six weekends a year with VA Tech football home games alone. 100,000 people come to Martinsville twice a year. Care to guess where they stay? Restaurants are always a risky endeavor.
@Chris: Thanks for letting us know. That’s sad news! I will try to get in touch with the owners.
@Bryan: Here is a link to a story I wrote in June about demand for hotel rooms and the construction of several new hotels.
http://www.roanoke.com/business/wb/310477
I posted this on another thread but Dave’s Deli, the former Padow’s at Townside Festival has closed. Their last day was yesterday.
Art: Thanks for letting us know.
It is so sad to hear of all the locals that have closed in the area. Bit pepple. Why does this town fight new chains comming. That is going to be the only places left in this town. they are the only ones that survive!! Don’t like it but people that is reality. So bring on new chains and stop fighting them!!!!!!!!
So many places closing and everybody including president says things getting better!! Bunch of crape!! Hate to see this town going under. Nobody wants growth in this town or to support anything!! Roamoke was so much better off years ago!!
@Chris: Sure, many businesses have closed, but we have also seen many businesses open in Roanoke. And look at the progress happening downtown with the Market Building, Center in the Square and the huge demand for downtown living.
Two more to add to the list. Bastian’s BBQ in Salem re-opened in 2012 and Sportsman’s Warehouse in Roanoke re-opened after being closed for 3 years.
#15 Chris, there are many reasons for places closing. Surf and Turf had gotten rundown looking and unappetizing. Grandin Automotive was trying to survive on a 50-year-old business plan that no longer works. And if my experience with Dave’s was normal, it’s no wonder that place is gone.
My wife and I went to Dave’s once a few weeks ago for lunch and it was AWFUL, probably the worst experience I’ve had in years. Despite not being very busy, the service was horrendously slow. Both of our orders were items that were already made and it still took 20 minutes to get them. Everybody else in the place was griping about the same thing. One couple’s order was entirely screwed up. The BBQ I got was dry and not very tasty. My wife’s very simple egg salad sandwich was close to inedible. She had to go home and fix another lunch.
Obama’s not to blame for that one.
Chris, decoding your posts is a challenge, but maybe someone needs to point out to you that more new local places opened than closed. Maybe you need to eat out more.
sweetie I eat out more then you know!!