Sunday, May 11, 2008
Need stamps? Note this change
Jenny Kincaid Boone
Jenny reports on the latest news on the Roanoke Valley retail industry.
Recent stories
Stamp vending machines are engines of the past -- literally.
Since February, these contraptions that dispense postage stamps in exchange for cash have been removed from post offices across the Roanoke and New River valleys and nationwide.
They were created in the 1980s as a convenient way for customers to buy stamps after the post office closed for the day.
Technological advances and people's increased use of debit and credit cards, have made these machines obsolete.
For one, consumers don't carry much cash nowadays, and these machines do not accept credit or debit cards, said David Walton, a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service.
And people don't go to the post office to purchase stamps as often. They can buy stamps online or at many stores that now sell them.
More consumers are paying their bills online, which keeps them from having to purchase stamps at all. The price of a first-class stamp will rise 1 cent on Monday to 42 cents.
Those factors, as well as the lack of available replacement parts, have cut down on the revenues that these machines generate, Walton said.
"It's not feasible to keep them in operation," he said.
But there's still a way to purchase stamps after business hours at some Roanoke Valley post offices. Locations in Cave Spring, Hollins, Salem and the main office in Roanoke house automated postal centers. These machines sell stamps, mailing labels and related supplies.
They've been around for the past three years, according to Charlene Yeagley, customer relations coordinator for the Postal Service in Roanoke. But you don't have to worry about these machines becoming obsolete anytime soon. They accept credit cards.
Village at Hollins Ridge
A development in North Roanoke County that was planned to bring patio homes, retail and restaurants has not made noticeable progress since it was announced in 2006, and it's unclear whether anything will happen there at all.
Two commercial real estate developers, Eric Eanes and Todd Conner, said in late 2006 that they planned to raise a retail and office complex and homes on 14 acres along Williamson Road, near Hollins University, slated as the Village at Hollins Ridge.
But work has not begun at the site. Eanes recently would not comment on the progress of the development or on the reasons that it has not moved forward.
"It's been put on hold," he said.
Eanes and Conner have completed one aspect of their plans in this area.
They purchased the former site of the Roanoke Motor Lodge, across Williamson Road from the planned Village at Hollins Ridge property, and they tore down the lodge.
They sold the site to the Bank of Botetourt in late 2007, said Watts Steger, chairman and chief executive officer of Botetourt Bankshares, the bank's parent company. Steger said the bank wants to build a branch there, though a date is unknown.
Stork Vision
A prenatal imaging center that is not affiliated with a doctor's office opened in Roanoke County in April.
Two Roanoke women co-own Stork Vision at 3426 Brambleton Ave. This is the Texas company's first Virginia location; it has other centers in Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Texas.
Stork Vision provides ultrasound imaging in 2-D, 3-D and 4-D for expectant mothers. It's an alternative to having an ultrasound in a doctor's office, because the center is open after normal business hours, said Jennifer Slusher, a co-owner of Stork Vision who works for Psychological Health-Roanoke.
Stork Vision is open on a part-time basis for now, taking appointments on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and on Saturdays. There are two sonographers at the center, but Slusher hopes to hire others as demand increases.
"We try not to put ourselves in competition with physicians," Slusher said. "We want to work with them."
Stork Vision requires that patients show verification that they are seeing a physician for prenatal care.
Annie Harvey, a recruiter for HSN who has experience in business development, co-owns Stork Vision with Slusher. The women do not have children, but "We love children," Slusher said. "We thought this was something that was important. We promote early bonding with your baby."
Slusher said she was impressed with "the reputability of the company." It has its own medical director, who is based in Texas.
News from the Storefront blog at blogs.roanoke.com/storefront/
n Linens 'N Things will close two Virginia stores.
n Burger King in Vinton will reopen by late July.
n El Rodeo in Roanoke has reopened after a March fire.
