Sunday, July 13, 2008
Microbrewery still on tap
Jenny Kincaid Boone
Jenny reports on the latest news on the Roanoke Valley retail industry.
Recent stories
A Roanoke microbrewery is on track to concoct beer -- though its operators still are ironing out the details.
The proposed Roanoke Railhouse Brewing Co. will sell beer to restaurants and bars through a distributor, in keg form and in a unit equivalent to one-third of a keg.
The company plans to blend beverages under two brands, Roanoke Railhouse Brewing Co. and Blacksburg Brewing Co., on a contract basis. It also will sell the brew on a retail basis to the public and hold tasting tours.
But it isn't brewing yet.
Steve Davidson, president of Roanoke Railhouse, is awaiting federal and state licenses to make and sell beer. He applied for the federal license in May. Once he receives it, he'd like to start manufacturing beer this month.
Still, other details for the new microbrewery are going forward.
Last month, John Bryce returned from a six-month brewing course in Germany.
The 29-year-old is now the certified brew master for Roanoke Railhouse, located at the former Dr Pepper bottling plant in South Roanoke. It's the same building as Wimmer Tire and Service Center.
Bryce founded Blacksburg Brewing Co. in Christiansburg, but it closed in 2004 after less than two years in operation. With the advent of Roanoke Railhouse, the Blacksburg Brewing Co. will have its own brew, as a contract brewery. Its beer will be sold in the New River Valley, though a distributor.
This week, the public will have a chance to help determine Roanoke Railhouse's flagship brew.
Tuesday through Thursday, Martin Research, a market research firm, will conduct tests, by appointment, with local residents separated into six focus groups. The taste-testers will indicate their preferences for eight different beers through a rating system.
The planned microbrewery will use this information to determine "what the Roanoke palate is," said Davidson, who is a full-time Realtor with ReMax All Points.
Mark Hall, who runs Wimmer Tire and owns the property through a limited liability company, is an investor in the microbrewery. Roanoke Railhouse is issuing Hall stock in the brewery as rent payment for 18 months, a time period that began in January, Davidson said.
He estimated the microbrewery's initial startup costs at about $200,000.
Davidson's not sure yet how many barrels the company initially will brew, because "the demand will determine how much we produce," he said.
This isn't the only commercial brewing business that's under way in the region.
A brew pub is planned for Awful Arthur's Seafood Co. at Towers Shopping Center in Roanoke, according to a city building permit.
Also, in Fairlawn, River Company Restaurant and Brewery is in the works, though the opening date is not yet set, said developer, Mark Hall, who is no relation to Hall of Wimmer Tire.
And in Blacksburg, Bull & Bones Brewhaus & Grill should open in October at a new mixed-used development on South Main Street, said one of its partners, Mark Shrader. Its name has been changed from Blacksburg Brewery & Chophouse.
Wal-Mart
Changes inside and out are meant to alter and improve the look of some Wal-Marts in the Roanoke and New River valleys.
Renovations have begun or will start soon at Wal-Mart Supercenters in Christiansburg and Salem, and at Roanoke County's Bonsack store. New paint will brighten the facades and the stores' indoor color palettes.
Also, you'll find some of the departments in new places. Many will be swapped, and some will be situated closer to the grocery section. It's an attempt to appeal to female shoppers, which are the retail giant's largest consumer group, said Amy Wyatt-Moore, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman.
The store aisles also will grow wider. New signage will largely feature lifestyle photography, such as pictures of people drinking milk for the dairy department, Wyatt-Moore said.
In-store pharmacies and the bathrooms also are being upgraded.
Wal-Mart remodels its supercenters every five to seven years, depending on customer traffic, Wyatt-Moore said. They won't be closed during these renovations, she said; most of the work takes place overnight.
But don't look for Wal-Mart's new logo inside all of these newly remodeled stores. The logo, Wal-Mart's name and a yellow sunburst symbol beside it, will not be displayed on storefronts until the fall.
Here's a detailed renovation schedule for Roanoke and New River valley Wal-Marts:
In Christiansburg, remodeling has begun, and will be complete on July 30.
In the Roanoke Valley, work recently began at the Bonsack Wal-Mart, with plans to finish on Sept. 17. In Salem, renovations will start July 21 and be complete Oct. 1.
Kelly Services
A international staffing firm with a Roanoke location is moving to Old Country Plaza in Roanoke County.
By mid-September, Kelly Services expects to open at this retail center on Starkey Road, beside Steger Creek. It's relocating from an office complex on Pheasant Ridge Road.
Dennis Cline, district manager for the firm, said the new storefront "is a much more visible location."
News from the Storefront blog at blogs.roanoke.com/storefront/
n Shula's 347 Grill is planned for Roanoke.
n Find out about the first Subway Cafe.
n Build-A-Bear Workshop will open Aug. 8 at Valley View Mall.
