Sunday, June 25, 2006
Prepay to use Sheetz pumps
Jenny Kincaid Boone
Jenny reports on the latest news on the Roanoke Valley retail industry.
Recent stories
It's going to be a little trickier to pay for gasoline at local Sheetz stores. The regional gas station chain likely won't be changing the new policy that it began enforcing this month. If you plan to pay cash for gas at Sheetz, you have to prepay before you pump.
Travis Sheetz, vice president of operations for the Pennsylvania-based chain, said the policy is an effort to stop gasoline theft. With ever-rising gas prices, more customers have been driving off without paying, he said.
So, in markets where theft has been a problem, including across the Roanoke Valley, Rocky Mount and Martinsville, the new policy is in force. It's a way for Sheetz to keep gas prices down and not lose money, Sheetz said.
The number of drive-offs at gas stations in Roanoke rose from March to April, according to data from the Roanoke City Police Department. There were 19 drive-offs reported in April, compared with 16 in March. But the numbers dropped significantly in May, with only six drive-offs, said Aisha Johnson, a spokeswoman for the police department.
Nonetheless, you'll see signs at local Sheetz pumps stating the new rules, with a message that begins with "We apologize." But you'll only find this policy in 20 percent of Sheetz stores, Sheetz said.
It's not enforced at the Lynchburg stores, but you'll find it at those in Northern Virginia and Richmond, he said.
The decision to enact the policy at certain locations also is based on the number of competitors in the local market that already require prepaying, Sheetz said.
But one local company that owns gas stations isn't going that way.
John Newton, president of Stop-In stores for Petroleum Marketers, said the company doesn't require customers to prepay. The company operates other Shell and Exxon stations locally.
He said drive-offs are not an issue at his company's stores.
And even so, Newton said, PMI would not punish all customers for just a few who might steal gas.
"Most people are honest folks," he said.
Chocolatepaper
You won't have to play guessing games with this new gift store.
The owners of Chocolatepaper in Roanoke County said they didn't want customers to have to guess what the shop sells.
Their new store that opened last week at the Shops at Springwood Park on Virginia 419, near Brambleton Avenue, sells what its name states: gourmet chocolates and greeting cards.
Stan McCulloch, one of three owners of the store, said the shop was created with the concept of selling chocolate and cards together. People often purchase those two kinds of products at the same time.
"The biggest season for cards is Christmas, and it's big for chocolate," said McCulloch, who lives in Richmond. "They can get chocolate here at the same time while they get a card. They sort of go hand in hand."
Matt and Mark Burkett are the shop's other owners. Mark Burkett lives in Richmond and Matt Burkett lives in the Roanoke Valley.
In the owners' newest retail venture, they are selling upper-scale chocolates, such as truffles, and chocolate from other countries, such as Belgium. They've set up a chocolate bar in the store to display the selection.
"People's tastes are becoming more sophisticated," McCulloch said. "They want a broader option of chocolate."
In addition to greeting cards and chocolate-related special occasion gifts, the shop also sells gift baskets, McCulloch said.
For the past 15 years, McCulloch and Mark Burkett have owned a store in Richmond, called Mongrel, where they sell greeting cards and contemporary home accessories, such as candles and glassware.
But they've discovered opportunity and a whole new marketplace in the Roanoke Valley.
Salem craft store
The craft offerings at a Salem store soon will be revived.
A craft store will reopen July 1 in the former spot of Berrycreek Hollow on Apperson Drive in Salem after closing for a while. Realtor Steve Mullins and a business partner purchased the strip center that houses Berrycreek and several other shops about a year and a half ago.
When the owner of Berrycreek decided to close the business, Mullins assumed that a new and different retailer might fill the spot.
But there was such a large outcry from craft vendors that had been selling their wares at Berrycreek that Mullins decided to reopen the store. The shop will have a different name that hasn't yet been decided, he said.
About 80 vendors, or 90 percent of the original group, will be selling their products at the 17,000-square-foot shop, he added.
Valley View
There's been some shifting going on at Valley View Mall in Roanoke.
Spencer's has moved to a spot across from babyGap on the mall's lower level.
And B&C Sports Collectibles has moved to a larger space near Sears on the lower level. It had been located near the mall's food court.
