September 4, 2008Steve & Barry's will stay at TanglewoodEarlier this year, the clothing chain (which is in bankruptcy proceedings) decided to reduce the number of stores. But the word today is that the Tanglewood Mall store will remain open. For more, see business writer Jenny Boone's post on her retail blog, The Storefront. We had a previous post about Steve & Barry's on July 10. September 3, 2008Salem-based spa opens second location on Franklin RoadThis isn't in Swoco, but it's oh so close: SpaVa Premier Day Spa plans to open a second location on Sept. 20 -- on Franklin Road. For details, see this report by business writer Jenny Boone on her retail blog, The Storefront. August 27, 2008Sylvan Learning moves to new location on Brambleton Just in time for the new school year, students in the Roanoke Valley now have more space to learn at Sylvan Learning’s new location at 3634 Brambleton Ave. The location was selected to provide more convenient access to Sylvan’s supplemental educational services. “We chose this space for easier accessibility for parents and for the constant traffic flow on Brambleton. It’s much more visible,” said Tina Kitchens, CEO of HoneyTree Early Learning Center, which owns the Sylvan franchise in Roanoke and Christiansburg. “The new space is much more open and provides for a better teaching area. It is bright and well lit and very inviting to the students.” The new center features one large teaching area, a testing room that’s also used for SAT classes, and several offices. The foyer is set up for parents to be able to have a place to wait. Continue reading "Sylvan Learning moves to new location on Brambleton" » Fall Programming at Good Samaritan HospiceDid you ever wonder what it would be like to volunteer with hospice? Do you need to know more about hospice services before you decide? Here is your chance to learn more. On THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, Good Sam will offer an "Introduction to Hospice" session. This one-hour session will cover the basics of hospice and how volunteers can become part of our service team. We use volunteers for patient/family support, as well as in our office and for special projects. The meeting will take place at Good Sam's Roanoke office, 3825-A Electric Road, SW at 10 a.m., Thursday, September 18. For more information or to register for this session, please call Becky Harris, Director of Volunteer Services at 540-776-0198 or email at bharris@goodsamhospice.org Family Support Volunteer Training Hospice family support volunteers work directly with our terminally ill patients and their families vising for 2-4 hours each week. They are often asked to sit with patients while families run errands or take needed time away. They bring loving companionship to homebound patients or those in facilities. No experience is needed, only a caring heart. Applications may be obtained by calling our office at 540-776-0198 and asking for Becky Harris or Melinda Bern. You may e-mail Becky at bharris@goodsamhospice.org. Deadline for applications is September 30. Living With Loss Hope & Hot Chocolate: Coping With Grief During the Holidays August 21, 2008Kabuki will reopen in SeptemberThis isn't in Southwest Roanoke County but it's just over the line so Swoco folks may be interested: Kabuki, the Japanese steakhouse on Franklin Road, will re-open in September. For details, see business writer Jenny Boone's retail blog, The Storefront. August 20, 2008nTelos store will open Keagy Village store in OctoberThe wireless service provider will open a retail location at the shopping center under construction on Electric Road. Business writer Jenny Boone has more on her retail blog, The Storefront. August 19, 2008Twinkletoes Dancewear opens in Ridgewood Shopping Center
Salem resident Kay Huffman just opened up Twinkletoes Dancewear in Ridgewood Shopping Center across from Lewis Gale -- just over the line from Southwest Roanoke County in Salem. A veteran of direct sell programs, Huffman is excited about having her own business. “I have two young daughters that dance … I listened for years to the other moms complaining about driving so far to get dance wear,” Huffman said. “So I thought I’d try to bring something over here to our side of town.” The store will have another grand opening celebration on August 23 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with gift cards, tote bags, bracelets, and other items being raffled off every half hour. Brand names like Body Wrappers, Leo's, and PrimaSoft point shoes will line the shelves. Dance related streetwear and a play area for toddlers should make it easy for dance-moms to shop there, too, said Huffman. -- Miranda Adkins Photo courtesy of Salem-Roanoke Chamber of Commerce. Chamber and Salem City council members line up with the Huffman family to cut the ribbon at Twinkletoes Dancewear. From left: Connor Huffman, Alice Stoddard, Lisa Garst, Spencer Huffman, Ellery Huffman, Debbie Kavitz, Lydia Huffman, Owner Kay Huffman and her husband J.R., Bill Jones, and Mark Mitchell. August 17, 2008Needle on the Square knitting shop to closeThe Needle on the Square knitting shop on Electric Road is closing. A going-out-of business sale will begin Sept. 2. Business writer Jenny Boone has details in her retail column. August 14, 2008Swoco bartenders featured in Hot Bartender contest If you've opened up the Inside Out section of today's Roanoke Times -- or surfed over to the entertainment page on roanoke.com -- you've probably already come across the Hot Bartenders Contest. If not, well, you might be interested to know that three bartenders from Southwest Roanoke County establishments are in the running (and two are from just over the line) -- and you get to be the judge, because it's an online-voting contest. The contenders from Southwest Roanoke County are: * Kate Bryant -- 419 West And these these two are from just over the line in the city: Kim Buchanan and Angela Drinkard from Montano's. Now, we're not encouraging anyone to stuff the ballot box. In fact, the way it's set up, you can only vote once. But hey, if you like one of these bartenders and want to spread the word to your friends, well, that's your business, eh? And while we're at it: You'll see the 36 contestants are listed by their establishment -- so it's possible some other folks with Swoco connections are in there, but we don't know it because they work at other places. So if you're from Southwest Roanoke County and you're one of those 36 contestants, let us know so we can talk you up, too! Just click "comment" below. August 13, 2008Southwest Virginia Business Hall of Fame will honor Branch, LionbergersKatherin Elam with Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia, Inc. sent us this press release about the 18th annual Southwest Virginia Business Hall of Fame to be held in October. The 18th annual Southwest Virginia Business Hall of Fame will be held at Hotel Roanoke, Tuesday October 14. Established in 1990 by the Junior Achievement Board of Directors to honor leaders of the free enterprise system and to provide business role models for our region’s youth, Laureates are selected by a group of their peers from the business community. This year’s Laureates are Bill Branch of Branch Management and the first ever husband and wife Laureates Sam, Jr. and Rindy Lionberger of Lionberger Construction. The Laureates for this year have been instrumental in the construction of many fine businesses and the infrastructure in the region. The Laureates are very familiar with Southwest County and each had children who attended schools in the area. Laureates are chosen based on their outstanding business success as well as contributions and involvement in the community. Inductees must be retired or semi-retired or no longer occupy the position in which their principal business contributions were made. This black-tie optional event costs $100 per person or $1,000 per table. It is the one time when aspiring student entrepreneurs can rub elbows with the most successful business leaders of our times. For more info please call 989-6392 or by email info@ja.roacoxmail.com Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia, Inc.
August 10, 2008Mason's Crest development to be auctioned August 26The partially-built Mason's Crest development off Merriman Road will be auctioned August 26. On the block will be two available homes, 31 lots and 149 acres. For details, see this story by business writer Jeff Sturgeon from Saturday's Roanoke Times. Do you live in or near Mason's Crest? What do you think this change of ownership will mean for you? Click "comments" below. August 4, 2008Grace's Place Pizzeria to open location on Brambleton AvenueGrace's Place Pizzeria on Grandin Road in Roanoke plans to open a second location for her pizza shop on Brambleton Avenue in Roanoke County. It will offer largely the same menu of pizza and subs as her current shop, though the new space will have only carry-out and delivery services, not in-store dining. The new Grace's Place location will land at 4321 Brambleton Ave., near Country Cookin. For details, see this story by business writer Jenny Boone. So what's your favorite pizza place -- and why? Click "comments" below. More photos from West Village construction controversy If you've seen the front page of today's Roanoke Times, you've seen the story about how some who live around West Village shopping center are unhappy with the construction there -- and even some store owners agree the center is an "eyesore." Here are two other photos from West Village that didn't make it with that story. At left: Construction site as seen from the backyard of Eunice Raynor. She once had trees behind her house; now there's a steep precipice down to the development along 419. Below: An unfinished rock wall behind Kathy's Boutique. Owner Kathy Grosvenor is frustrated with the lack of progress in finishing the project. She still has temporary stairs to her clothing boutique and sometimes there are mud slides from the bare dirt behind her store. Photos by Kyle Green What do you think of the situation? Click "comments" below. Continue reading "More photos from West Village construction controversy" » July 31, 2008Bonefish Grill not coming to Keagy VillageThe developers said in 2006 that Bonefish Grill would be opening a location in Keagy Village. But now, business writer Jenny Boone tells us that's not so. For more on what's happening -- or not happening -- at the retail center under development at the corner of 419 and Keagy Road, click here. July 29, 2008Looking for an ethnic food market?We now have a database of ethnic food markets in the Roanoke and New River valley. Among those on the list are two in Southwest Roanoke County. Maybe you know them already. They're Ambika Indian Grocery at 4520 Brambleton Avenue and J&L Oriental Food Mart at 3109 Brambleton. If not, you can search the database to get directions to them and the others in the region. Food writer Lindsey Nair has a series of stories on ethnic food marts in the region. One of the places she features is the J&L Oriental Food Mart; you can take a video visit to J&L in the accompanying video. Finally, data delivery editor Matt Chittum chats up the database in this post on how to use it -- and add to it if you know of places we've missed. Why was there a helicopter over Tanglewood Mall? If you saw a helicopter hovering over Tanglewood Mall on Sunday and wondered what was going on, well, we found out for you. Rebecca Spaid, the marketing manager at the mall, tells us the choppers were involved in upgrading Tanglewood's chiller system. Photo by Kevin Myatt July 28, 2008New office park on 419 If you drive down Virginia 419 often, you may be wondering what all the construction is about. Well, one of those construction sites is the Wentworth Office Park. According to Thomas Fellers, marketing and Operations Liaison for HouseSmart Construction, Inc., the building of the office park began in early 2007. Building A, which is still under construction will house Good Samaritan Hospice and is 10,000 square feet. It is estimated that they will move in by November 2007. Fellers said that building A is 100 percent occupied at this time. Building B is already complete and the first floor houses the Bullington Law Firm and is 6,000 square feet. The top floor is currently occupied by HouseSmart Construction Inc.. and Fralin Commercial, HouseSmart’s sister company, recently charted by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC). Half of the top of Building B is still vacant. The Wentworth Office Park is being built by Fralin Commercial. Fralin Commercial and HouseSmart were formerly located in Christiansburg. Fellers said they decided to move their operations to Roanoke. Top photo: Building B, which is partially vacant. The Bullington Law Firm occupies the entire bottom floor. Fralin Construction and HouseSmart Construction Inc. occupies the top. July 18, 2008Starbucks in (and around) SWoCo are sparedEarlier, we wondered whether any of the Starbucks in or near Southwest Roanoke County who survive the company's cutbacks. Well, they apparently have. Business writer Jenny Boone says none of the local outlets are on the list of locations that Starbucks plans to shutter. For more, see her retail blog, The Storefront. July 13, 2008Family tradition serves as a way of life For 133 years, generation after generation of the Jamison family has been working the land in Southwest Roanoke County on their family farm, using nature as a means to make a living. Together, the family grows their own crops, their own fruit, including apples and peaches, and utilize the fresh fruit from their orchards by selling the fruit in their market and making tasty treats. Peaches in the summer and apples in the fall are what keep the Jamisons in business. In 1875, Bailey Jamison moved to Southwest Roanoke County, where he settled and raised a family on the Jamison Farm. At that time a wooden water wheel, sawmill, and a wool carding mill existed on the land. That same year a grist mill was added. Norma Jean Jamison, who currently works on the farm with the rest of her family, said her grandfather Bailey started a route in Salem as early as the 1900s.  “He had a few milk cows and he’d sell milk and butter and taken them into town with some extra apples. He took food to people’s homes.” Then in 1960 her father Virgil, started a route which is being driven today. In the 1900s Jamison’s Orchard was shipping apples to England in barrels.  In 1907, Elmer Johnson was 28 years old. His wife had died, leaving him with two young children, Seeing the water in the creek nearby inspired him to build a waterwheel to turn the ringer washing machine, the butter churn, and the cream separator. Later, he replaced the larger wooden waterwheel with steel. The Jamisons take great pride in the produce. Each day they check their market on 5635 Grandin Road Extension, just one mile past Oak Grove Elementary School. Continue reading "Family tradition serves as a way of life" » July 10, 2008Steve & Barry files for bankruptcy protectionThe clothing chain -- which has an outlet at Tanglewood Mall -- has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Business writer Jenny Boone has more on her her retail blog, The Storefront. So what do you think? Do you shop at Steve & Barry's? July 9, 2008Business Links Networking Breakfast to be held in AugustThe Chamber Ambassadors with the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce will have a Networking Breakfast on August 15 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Hidden Valley Country Club at 2500 Romar Road in Salem. Admission is $8 at the door and includes buffet breakfast and program. Those who attend are encouraged to bring their business cards. The event is sponsored by Servpro and Hidden Valley Country Club. RSVP by August 12 by calling, (540) 387-0267 or emailing chamber@s-rcchamber.org. Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce to offer business basics seminarWant to start a business, but don't know where to start? Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce is offering a Business Basics class on August 11 from 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. at 210 S. Jefferson Street. Learn what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur at this “Business Basics” seminar for prospective business owners. The class costs $10 a person. Register online here or for more information, contact Taryn at 983.0717 ext. 239 or sbdc@roanokechamber.org. July 8, 2008Highlander Pizza likes Oak Grove PlazaOver on business writer Jenny Boone's retail blog, The Storefront, she talks to the owner of Highlander Pizza, a Radford-based pizza restaurant which in April opened a location in Oak Grove Plaza. Hint: Highlander delivers, and is looking for more Roanoke Valley locations. July 7, 2008President of Chick-fil-A visits Southwest Roanoke County President and Chief Operating Officer of Chick-fil-A, Dan Cathy made a visit to the Southern Hills Drive location of Chick-fil-A in Southwest County last week. Cathy, who attends all of the Chick-fil-A grand opening’s was unable to make it to the grand opening on May 1, so he made his visit Thursday, May 3. “I come to all of the new stores,” Cathy said. “I visit with them, meet the team members, talk about our principles, and discuss career opportunities with the staff.” Continue reading "President of Chick-fil-A visits Southwest Roanoke County" » Doreen's Gourmet plans grand opening Tuesday and WednesdayDoreen's Gourmet -- formerly High Point Coffee and Team -- is having its grand opening celebration Tuesday and Wednesday night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will feature free wine tastings from Valhalla Vineyards, free gourmet food samples and live music. For details, see what food writer Lindsey Nair has to say over on her Fridge Magnet food blog. We had a previous post about Doreen's Gourmet and the changes she's planning on June 16. July 2, 2008Will the Starbucks in (and around) Swoco survive?You'll recall we recently asked the question: Are there too many coffee shops in Southwest Roanoke County? Actually, business writer Jenny Boone asked it over on her retail blog, The Storefront, but we asked it again and sent you on your way to Jenny's blog. Well, now comes word that Starbucks plans to eliminate hundreds of locations nationwide. No word yet on which ones will be cut, but Jenny has talked to company officials and has some information on what kind of stores the chain plans to target. You can read her update right here. So, what do you think? You can leave a comment on this blog. June 26, 2008First Market Bank holds Grand Opening on Friday Roanoke West Village invites you to the First Market Bank’s Grand Opening Celebration, located at 3605 Electric Rd. Roanoke, on Friday, June 27th, from 11:00am-2:00pm. Bring up to three bins of your personal documents to be shredded, enter our drawing to win a $500 Ukrop’s Gift Card, step into our Money Machine for 30 seconds to grab all the cash you can and enjoy a delicious cookout lunch and grand opening specials! June 22, 2008More on Chocolatepaper's expansion downtownWe told you in a post last Thursday that the Southwest Roanoke County sweet shop Chocolatepaper is adding a second location in downtown Roanoke. Today, business writer Jenny Boone has The Cellar on Brambleton Avenue will close this weekThe Brambleton Avenue nightspot and restaurant is closing at the end of this week. The building owner says he's not renewing The Cellar's lease because he's fed up with noise complaints from neighbors. Jenny Boone has more on the story. (It's about mid-way through.) June 20, 2008AEP wants to build power line near TanglewoodAppalachian Power Co. asked the state Friday for permission to string 1.4 miles of new overhead electrical line and build a new substation in the Tanglewood area of of Southwest Roanoke County. The substation site is between Tanglewood Mall and Green Valley Elementary School, near a handful of apartment complexes including Honeywood Apartments and Pebble Creek Apartment and Stone Brook and adjacent to the cul-de-sacs on Berryhill Drive and Crawford Road. For more on this story, click here. We had a previous post about AEP's plans on March 10. So what do you think about the power line? You can leave comments below. June 19, 2008Southwest Roanoke County sweet shop expands downtownChocolatepaper, which food writer Lindsey Nair calls "Southwest County's trendiest sweet shop," is opening a second location in downtown Roanoke. Lindsey has details on her food blog, the Fridge Magnet. Are there too many coffee shops in Southwest Roanoke County?That's the question business writer Jenny Boone is asking over on her retail blog, The Storefront. What do you think? Which one do you like best and why? You can leave comments below. Jenny's question is prompted by the sale of High Point Coffee and Tea and its transformation into Doreen's Gourmet. We had a post about the change on June 16. We also had a post June 16 about the new open mic for teens at The Daily Grind. And, speaking of coffee shops, you can find our community journalist for Southwest Roanoke County -- Emily Flora -- each Wednesday morning at the Starkey Road branch of Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea. That's our Swoco "bureau," so we know how to sip coffee no matter where. June 17, 2008U.S. 220 water line project breaks ground Here's a press release about the recent ground-breaking on the U.S. 220 water line project: June 11, 2008 (Roanoke County, VA) – The Counties of Franklin and Roanoke and the Western Virginia Water Authority broke ground on a joint water line project in the U.S. Route 220 corridor. This new 12-inch water line will provide a regional service that will enhance the quality of life for customers as well as the regional community. Continue reading "U.S. 220 water line project breaks ground" » June 16, 2008Doreen's Gourmet will open in place of High Point CoffeeDoreen's Gourmet is taking place of what used to be High Point Coffee. The new owner, Doreen Sidor is already taking the necessary steps to making it her very own shop and plans to open the doors on July 1. An open house will be held on July 8 and July 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. including on July 8, the Great River Jazz Quartet. The new shop will offer gourmet meals to go, including lunches and breakfast; homemade pastas, sauces, sandwiches- all fresh, deli sliced, salads, muffins, bagels, coffee and tea. A conference room will also be available for birthday parties, meetings, any type of entertainment, business luncheons, anniversaries, etc. Sidor plans to continue the musical tradition and have bands play weekly, including an open mic night and karaoke night. Doreen's Gourmet will be open Monday through Thursday from 6:30 a.m. until 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 6:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sidor has lived in Southwest Roanoke County for 13 years and became the owner effective June 1. This is Sidor's first shop, however, she has a lot of experience with gourmet food. She previously taught classes at Twist and Turns. Sidor is currently renovating the shop, putting in a ten burner gas unit, oven, and two large double ovens, granite counter tops, and new furniture. "I had a huge following and everyone kept telling me I need to open a restaurant," Sidor said. "So, I went online and found a local coffee shop for sale. It's in a area I like and its close to home. I'm happy with it." Sidor says the menu will include a wide variety and a shop will be available to buy the same olive oil, crackers, balsamic vinegar, Sidor uses in her food. She will also be selling homemade soup mixes beginning in the fall. Sidor will also be offering cooking classes. Two that are coming up include one on June 10 ($55) from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and a picnic class and feild trip to Valhalla Vineyards on July 24 ($65). To sign up for these classes, call Sidor at 540-400-6049 or 540-819-0012. Both classes will be held at Doreen's Gourmet at 4210 Brambleton Avenue. Sidor's website will also be up and running officially in a few months. Visit Doreen's Gourmet. Swoco teens play music at the Daily Grind On Tuesday evening, June 10 the Daily Grind was a packed house. And coffee and tea were only half the reason that people crowded in, young and old alike. Jeanie Patterson, owner of the Daily Grind in West Village on Virginia 419, wanted to do something new and different and decided that teenagers don’t have a lot of options during the evenings in SWoCo. So, she decided to begin an Open Mic Night for Teens. Continue reading "Swoco teens play music at the Daily Grind" » June 9, 2008Review on the Brambleton Blend in Roanoke County If you're going to be riding around the Roanoke County area and happen to get hungry, check out the Brambleton Blend. Haven't heard of it? Check out this review that Dolores Kostelni wrote for The Roanoke Times, Inside Out. June 3, 2008What would do well on Slate Hill?
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