Jenny Kincaid Boone covers retail and real estate.

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Jenny Kincaid Boone

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• Woolworth's space is being renovated in downtown Roanoke

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The fate of a retail center under construction in Southwest Roanoke County may be turning a corner, though it still has a long way to go.

Dunkin' Donuts, Firehouse Subs, nTelos and Scottrade are retailers slated to take spaces at Keagy Village, an outdoor shopping center planned at Virginia 419 and Keagy Road, said Bobby Temple, a vice president for Kahn Development Co., the center's South Carolina developer. But when exactly these retailers will open is up in the air.

Also, the center, situated on 16 acres, has yet to land an anchor store, though the retail development was announced about four years ago.

Temple did not offer a clear reason why an anchor retailer has not been found, stating that "development usually occurs in cycles."

He acknowledged that economic factors in the past year haven't been favorable to Keagy Village, and that mirrors the state of the retail industry nationwide.

"The economy we're in now is not conducive to quick leasing arrangements," Temple said. "It's not a good time for retail, but Kahn Development remains optimistic for Roanoke."

He named four retailers planned for Keagy Village, with the expectation that both nTelos and Dunkin' Donuts will move in by the end of this year. But a spokesman for nTelos, Mike Minnis, said the wireless services provider is not making any firm announcements about an opening date yet.

It has begun renovating its Keagy Village retail space, but the retailer doesn't plan to open until Keagy Village takes a better shape and looks less like a construction zone, Minnis said.

"We want to make sure for our employees and for our customers, that it's a good shopping experience," he said.

Temple said a Firehouse Subs location should open in January, followed by Scottrade, a securities brokerage, in the first quarter of 2009.

Mike Pietrzyk, a local franchisee for Firehouse Subs, said he expects to soon sign a lease for this sub shop at Keagy Village.

Already, two national retail chains have pulled out of Keagy Village. Earlier this year, Starbucks bagged its previously announced plans to open a coffee shop there, on the heels of cutbacks in its expansion plans nationwide. Also, several months ago, Bonefish Grill, a seafood restaurant chain, said it had slashed plans to open a restaurant at Keagy Village.

But this chain recently has reinstated its negotiations with Kahn Development, Temple said. Still, a decision is not final, and "we haven't had any further discussions since the economy has taken some negative steps," he added.

Doug Chittum, director of economic development for Roanoke County, said "retail movement is slow" at several commercial developments in the county. And in the case of Keagy Village, "timing is everything," he said.

Kahn Development has said that it expects Keagy Village to house 105,000 square feet of retail and 25,000 square feet of office space.

Native Grace shop opens in downtown Roanoke

The bright red and orange walls of a new downtown Roanoke shop hold fair trade chocolates, handbags, necklaces and earrings made from recycled materials. A set of shelves, serving as an education center, offers books about artisans and their handicrafts, many of which are sold inside this eclectic store, Native Grace. It opened last month at 108 Church Ave.

The owner, Donna Bollinger, decided to merge her interest in social justice and a sustainable environment into a retail enterprise. She moved to Roanoke five years ago, after working with nonprofits and traveling the world with faith-based organizations. In Roanoke most recently, she worked full time for New Horizons Healthcare, a local nonprofit, and she's still doing some community outreach for New Horizons, such as working with Hispanics.

Bollinger said it has been her vision to help market the handiwork of people across the globe as a way of promoting sustainable living and fair trade. Bollinger also sells her own handmade fabric creations, from skirts to children's clothing.

"Every little piece in here has meaning," Bollinger said last week, lifting up slippers from Nepal and pointing out handbags made from rice bags in the Philippines.

She plans to brew tea in the back area of her store, which she has transformed into a mini tea shop. Tables are set up, and books on spirituality are available for reading. Shoppers can buy different brands and flavors of tea, such as Equal Exchange and Republic of Tea, or they can sip the hot brewed beverages at the shop. Bollinger also will sell individually wrapped biscotti, scones and other foods from Nico's Ristorante & Cafe.

Despite the slowing economy, Bollinger said she's confident in the timing of Native Grace.

"It's been so much a part of my vision," she said. "It doesn't matter what the economy is doing."

Paradise Grill serves Caribbean, soul foods

A new restaurant serving Caribbean and soul foods opened last month on Melrose Avenue in Roanoke. Joseph Mayo, bishop at Paradise Cathedral in Roanoke, and his wife, Linda, are the owners of Paradise Grill at 3938 Melrose Ave. Mayo said he decided to open the eatery because "there was a need for this style of food in the community."

Village Grill adds boccie ball court

There is a new competitive feature at a Roanoke bar and restaurant.

The owner of the Village Grill has constructed a boccie ball court in a fenced area to the side of this Memorial Avenue eatery. Owner Jimmy Muscaro said he got the idea for the court from a club in Pennsylvania.

At the Village Grill, patrons can use the approximately 60-foot-long outdoor court at their leisure. Muscaro also is organizing boccie ball leagues for competitions at the new court.

News from the Storefront blog at blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/storefront/

-- Flat Rock Grille in Roanoke has closed.

-- A new sub shop appears to be headed for the former Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea location in downtown Roanoke.

-- Are you brand loyal?