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! June 10, 2008Membership deal at Planet FitnessPlanet Fitness at Towers Shopping Center in Roanoke is beginning to sign-up members. A flyer for this new health club states that there’s a pre-grand opening sale going on. From now until June 27, you can sign up for memberships for $10 a month. The fine print states that this rate is subject to a $20 annual rate guarantee fee. I still haven’t heard from the franchise owner about when this new health club will open, though renovation work already has begun at the space. Click here for more info about Planet Fitness. May 8, 2008The latest on new health clubsIf you’ve gone by Towers Shopping Center lately, you may have noticed that there now is a pink sign up for Planet Fitness. It’s a new health club planned for the Roanoke shopping center, and work has begun to renovate its space in the former spot of Hancock Fabrics on Towers lower level. I haven’t been to Planet Fitness clubs, but I’ve read articles that this health club has strict rules about grunting while working out. Check out this 2006 New York Times story about the club's policy. I’m haven't yet found out the date that Planet Fitness is expected to open. Also, Gold’s Gym has opened its Crossroads Mall location in Roanoke. It initially landed a temporary spot at Crossroads for several months, while crews renovated its new space. This is the second Gold’s in the Roanoke Valley. If you’ve tried out Gold’s new gym or if you’ve been to a Planet Fitness elsewhere, share your thoughts on these health clubs. April 4, 2008Fink's gets into bloggingThis is a blog entry about a blog. Actually, it’s about the world of retail blogging. More retailers and other kinds of companies (including Roanoke’s Carilion Clinic) have created their own blogs in recent years, as a way to communicate with consumers who troll the Internet. Blogs are interactive online logs featuring everything from commentary and news to personal information. Many online retailers are cultivating blog audiences, but I recently discovered one created by a Roanoke-based retailer, Fink’s Jewelers. 
I've still trying to reach Fink's to ask about the purpose of its blog, so I'll let you know once I find out more information. Also, here’s the blog by Carilion Clinic that I mentioned above. This also is a public relations tool for the company. A Wal-Mart blog, called checkoutblog.com, is an unusual example of how retailers put information out in the blogosphere. It has largely unedited entrees written by store managers and buyers for the retail giant. They often give insight about certain products sold at Wal-Mart, but not all of their reviews are positive. Here’s a recent New York Times story about Wal-Mart’s blog. March 7, 2008New health club planned for TowersA new health club is coming to the Roanoke Valley. Planet Fitness will open on the lower level of Towers Shopping Center in Roanoke. It’s taking the former space of Hancock Fabrics, according to Bill Asbell, who is a franchise owner for the Roanoke club. Hancock Fabrics closed last year after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Asbell said he expects the club to open by late June. Planet Fitness, which started in New Hampshire, has at least 250 franchises nationwide, including two in Virginia, in Virginia Beach and Falls Church. News of its opening comes on the heels of a second Gold’s Gym planned for the Roanoke Valley. Gold's set up a temporary location at Crossroads Mall last year, and it's expected to open this year at this shopping and office complex on Hershberger Road in Roanoke. Stay tuned to this blog or my Sunday retail column for more details about Planet Fitness’ new Roanoke location. February 7, 2008Is chocolate still in for Valentine's?We’re a week away from the holiday where boxes of heart-shaped chocolates, roses and other pink and red presents are exchanged as tokens of love. I glanced randomly at some prices for boxes of chocolate at a local Kroger recently and found that a heart-shaped box of Dove chocolates had the highest price tag at $12.99. Other brands, from Russell Stover to Hershey’s, were priced in the $7 to $9 range. The National Retail Federation predicts that the average person will spend $122.98 on Valentine’s Day purchases this year, which is about the same as last year at $119.67. That spending amount seems high to me, unless you’re planning a weekend getaway. Back to the chocolates, tell me, where have you noticed the highest prices for chocolates locally? And is the traditional box of chocolates still a preferred Valentine’s gift? February 6, 2008Luring retailers to RoanokeYou may remember when Roanoke City last February launched a new Web site to entice retailers and solicit local feedback. At www.myretailroanoke.com, you can vote for the stores or restaurants that you’d like to see land in the Roanoke Valley. I’m working on a story to update this city effort and determine whether or not it is working to attract these coveted retailers. Right now, Kohl’s, IKEA and the Cheesecake Factory top the list. I’m interested in your thoughts. If you have visited this Web site, tell us the retailers for which you voted and what you think of this effort and its chance for success. January 31, 2008Hotel Roanoke rehabIf you’re considering a stay at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, keep in mind that the hotel has begun the second phase of a complete makeover to its rooms and some common areas. But the only change you may notice with this $6.5 million renovation is a heightened room rate on dates when demand is large. 
In the first makeover phase of 150 rooms, which was complete in May, the hotel did everything from installing black granite countertops in bathrooms to bringing in flat screens televisions and beds with at least five pillows propped up against headboards. In the second phase, the hotel is renovating 180 rooms, suites and corridors. About 75 rooms will be out of service at a time until April, when the makeover is complete. The reduced availability of rooms could drive up room rates, if demand is strong for certain dates, according to Michael Quonce, who is public relations and advertising manager for the Hotel Roanoke. But nightly rates at the hotel have increased this year, mostly in the line with the lodging market, he said. Rates range from $119 to $219. Photo by Eric Brady, Roanoke Times photographer January 18, 2008Auctioning off history
Betsy and John Williams are selling Victorian furnishings, display racks, plants and items from their neighboring gourmet cheese shop. Dec. 31 was their last day in business. If you want to preview any of the items before the auction, you can make an appointment by calling 342-3937. Previewing will be allowed up to two hours before the sale. The sold items must be removed by Jan. 27. A new buyer has purchased the former Billy’s Ritz location. A large sold sign is plastered on the restaurant’s windows. I’m still trying to confirm who the new buyer is, though there have been plenty of rumors. January 8, 2008Domino's owner cashes in on downtownThe owner of some Roanoke area Domino’s Pizza franchises has purchased a prominent downtown Roanoke site for $1.3 million. Tom Wallace bought the former Yellow Cab property, which is a 1.2 acre parcel at 25 Williamson Road, according to Poe & Cronk Real Estate Group, the commercial firm that handled the sale. This site is adjacent to the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center and not too far from the new Art Museum of Western Virginia, which is under construction. Likely most downtown real estate that is located near the art museum will be popular as we near the museum’s opening expected by the year’s end. Property values near the museum are expected to rise, Hubard said. November 19, 2007Evolving downtown spacesToday I’ve been reporting on residential condominiums in downtown Roanoke, and that’s why I'm writing such a late blog post. But I've been learning some interesting news about downtown's evolving retail and office condo market. A Roanoke lawyer, Neil Horn, has a contract to purchase office space on the street level of the Campbell Garage Lofts on Campbell Avenue in downtown, according to the building’s owner, George Stanley. 
Not too far away, a business has a contract to buy a commercial space on the first level of the Fulton Motor Lofts, a condo project on Salem Avenue. That still leaves a second condo spot up for grabs in the building, said owner Bill Chapman. Condo office and retail spaces are not entirely new to downtown Roanoke. But mostly they have required businesses to buy an entire building or floor. Lately, however, smaller condo locations have been popping up for sale in downtown. Businesses purchasing their own space is a signal of the long-term viability of downtown Roanoke, developers have said. But the commercial condo market is more widespread in larger U.S. cities, such as New York, Chicago and Boston. In these cities, everywhere you look there are mixed-use buildings with retail locations on the bottom level and offices or living units in the upper floors. The downside to businesses owning their own space is there is less flexibility to make a move. The upside, however, is that the owner can build equity and receive a significant return if they end up selling out. Photo by Roanoke Times photographer Eric Brady. November 12, 2007Donate your solesDuring the holidays, some retailers throughout the area sponsor giving events for the needy. 
Now through Dec. 25, you can drop off footwear at Dandelion Feet at 108 Church Ave. Another local drop-off point is the office of Bella Magazine at 4212 Cypress Park Drive in Roanoke. Get more information about the donations at www.dandelionfeet.com/Giving_Soles. This photo was taken by Stephanie Klein-Davis, a Roanoke Times photographer, last December in front of Dandelion Feet. November 9, 2007Stick to the list!As the weekend begins, here are some budgeting tips from the National Retail Federation for holiday shopping. As I wrote in my earlier post, it’s hard not to be bombarded with Christmas spending when you’re out and about. 1) Make a list of everyone you need to buy for and how much you plan to spend on them before visiting a store or a Web site. And of course, stick to the list. I’ll add some tips that work for me. I’m a list maker. Similar to one of the suggestions above, I like to make lists of who to buy for, what I want to find for them and roughly how much the item would cost (if I’ve done my homework). Also, I establish in my mind a goal amount to spend for that particular trip. The idea is not to exceed the goal. And stay away from the credit card and impulse buying. Send along some of your tips. October 31, 2007Trick-or-treats at the mallIf you’re still looking for trick-or-treating plans for Halloween tonight, check out two Roanoke Valley malls. From 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., there will be trick-or-treating at Tanglewood Mall stores. And at Valley View Mall, trick-or-treating is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Both shopping centers are hosting other children’s activities, including games, costume contests and story telling. October 24, 2007New Gold's Gym
This will be the second Gold’s in the Roanoke Valley. The other one opened in 2003 in Roanoke County on Electric Road. One of several owners of the new Gold’s, Eddie Dail, said pre-membership sign-ups for this new facility will begin in about two weeks, inside the former Dollar Duz It store at Crossroads, which you can see in this picture. But the entrance to the new gym will be in the back of Crossroads. Aside from some of the regular health club features, the new Gold’s will have adult and children’s pools and a cardio theater. That’s a large movie screen, situated in front of bikes and other exercise machines. Putting movies and exercise together is an unusual combination. I question whether watching movies really will put people in an exercising mood. |
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