Sunday, August 24, 2008
Judges Chambers on the docket
Jenny Kincaid Boone
Jenny reports on the latest news on the Roanoke Valley retail industry.
Recent stories
The menu will be called "the docket." Drawings of courtroom scenes may adorn the walls.
Situated several blocks from the Roanoke City Courthouse, the Poff Federal Building and city municipal offices, husband-and-wife restaurateurs are poised to draw downtown Roanoke's hungry office crowd with a courthouse-themed eatery.
Waqar Malik and Martha Taylor of Roanoke are on track to open Judges Chambers in the next month or two.
The owners of the eatery, slated for 304 First St. S.W., formerly the Peanut Store, plan to serve breakfast and lunch. Menu items will include omelet wraps, bagels, salads and eight sandwich varieties, including paninis and vegetarian. Malik described the fare as "heart healthy."
They soon will begin some renovations to the approximately 1,000-square-foot space.
Malik and Taylor are not new to the restaurant business. In June, they sold their ownership stake in The Isaacs Restaurant, a Mediterranean eatery in the Grandin Village, which opened last year.
Valley View/ Tanglewood
New stores have opened or are planned at two Roanoke Valley malls.
At Valley View Mall, wireless retailer, T-Mobile, will open in September in a kiosk on the mall's lower level, near Abercrombie & Fitch.
Natural Market by Nature's Outlet opened last week beside Panera Bread at the District at Valley View, adjacent to the mall. The retailer sells health foods and beverages and health supplements.
Raquela's Jewelry & Gifts moved into Tanglewood Mall several months ago in a space on its lower level near Belk.
Formerly called Y Más, this store selling jewelry, handbags and other items for monogramming and engraving moved from a retail center on Electric Road, near Gold's Gym, where it had been open for less than a year.
Anytime Fitness
Not enough hours in the day for exercise?
A health club that keeps its doors open 24 hours a day is coming to Kroger Square at Bonsack, a new retail center on U.S. 460 in Roanoke County. Anytime Fitness will move into a 4,200-square-foot spot beside Kroger, said Millie Moore, a leasing broker for the center.
Its projected opening date is Oct. 15, said Mark Daly, a spokesman for the chain.
Anytime Fitness clubs house cardio equipment, free weights and weight machines. Some also have tanning salons.
Back on the Rack
You only have a short time to check out this new store. A consignment shop selling children's and teenage apparel, baby equipment and home decor will be open for eight days next month at Towers Shopping Center in Roanoke.
Back on the Rack will move into a 5,200-square-foot space beside FedEx Kinko's on Towers' upper level. It will be open from Sept. 20 to 28. Visit www.backontherackroanoke.com for more details.
News from the Storefront blog at blogs.roanoke.com/storefront/
n September and October will bring new Ntelos stores to Blacksburg and Roanoke.
n Restaurant deals are flying, and a food industry firm reports that Americans continue to cut back on dining out.
n Kabuki, a Roanoke Japanese steak house, will reopen in September.
