Sunday, October 29, 2006
Costume sales are a treat for shop
Jenny Kincaid Boone
Jenny reports on the latest news on the Roanoke Valley retail industry.
Recent stories
If you plan to buy a new costume for Halloween, you're not alone. This year, spending for Halloween costumes and other related merchandise, such as decor, is predicted to rise to $4.96 billion from $3.29 billion, based on research by the National Retail Federation.
There's at least one local store where business relies solely upon whether or not people get into the Halloween spirit. Everything Halloween opened at Valley View Mall in September in a rather prominent spot near the food court.
But in two days, on Halloween, as originally planned, the shop will close its doors.
Not that sales haven't been brisk. The store's manager, David Galyean, said he hasn't been able to keep the store's LegAvenue costumes on racks, because they're selling so quickly. The costumes primarily are for women and some include leg-high stockings in fishnet and other designs. They come in wide varieties, from witch outfits to Santa suits fitted with high red boots and white fur.
You still may find Halloween costumes and other merchandise at some unlikely local places, such as Old Navy at Valley View Mall and at some drugstores, including CVS.
Salem Creek
Just in time for Christmas shopping, a Roanoke County retailer that primarily sells holiday merchandise is expanding to Forest.
Salem Creek at Old Country Plaza on Starkey Road in Southwest Roanoke County will open its doors at a new stand-alone building at 16890 Forest Road early next month. The owner, Michael Pace, said the store's second largest group of customers lives in Lynchburg and its surrounding areas. So, Pace and his wife, Alex, decided to take a leap to that part of the state, designing their own brick building at about 8,000 square feet. Near it also will be a new Fink's Jewelers store and a high-end women's apparel retailer called Columns.
Pace's new store will carry the same merchandise as the Roanoke County Salem Creek, such as Christmas decorations and ornaments, Vera Bradley bags and other accessories and gift items, Pace said.
But initially, the two stores will have different names. Pace plans to call the Forest shop Steger Creek, which is his company's corporate name. It is named for a creek that runs through the Pace family's property in central Virginia.
In February, Pace said he also will change the Roanoke County Salem Creek's name to Steger Creek.
Bellacino's
Don't call the sandwiches at Bellacino's "subs." The toasted sandwiches are known as grinders, which are Italian-style sandwiches, and likely are menu features that have made this Daleville franchise popular.
Soon, there will be a Bellacino's in Southwest Roanoke County.
This pizza and pasta eatery is opening a shop at Old Country Plaza on Starkey Road, beside Food Lion. This franchise's owner, Bob Taylor, said he is renovating a 4,000-square-foot space and is in the process of putting in tables, bathrooms and refrigeration equipment.
Taylor said he's been on the lookout for a spot in the Roanoke Valley for several years. Old Country Plaza has the right cluster of commercial businesses, traffic and a nearby residential area to draw customers, he said.
Taylor took over the franchise in 2003, opening its current location at 1176 Roanoke Road.
Look for its Roanoke restaurant to open next month.
Carrabba's Italian Grill
Carrabba's Italian Grill is another new restaurant set to debut in Roanoke by the end of this year. It will open Dec. 4 beside Valley View Mall. As previously reported, the 5,976-square-foot restaurant is part of the new retail center called the District at Valley View. Carrabba's is an upscale Italian eatery based in Florida.
Creations
In downtown Roanoke, a new gift store has opened while some restaurants have closed.
Creations, a retailer offering an array of ways to display photographs on gold-tone metal, as well as artwork and gifts, recently set up shop at 32 Market Square, which is on one side of the City Market Building across from Awful Arthur's Seafood Co. One of the store's owners, Francine Barish-Stern, said she's also looking for local crafters to sell items on consignment in the new shop.
Meanwhile, several downtown eateries have closed, and the owners did not respond to calls for comment. They include Jeffrey's at 214 Market St., Quizno's at 106 Market St. and Grassroots, once located inside the Market Building.
Stein Mart
Stein Mart's new digs at Tanglewood Mall will include an entry to the mall from inside the store, as well as an exterior entrance, according to Justin Biller, Roanoke County's assistant building commissioner. As reported, the department store is making plans to relocate from inside the mall to a space at Tanglewood's west end that would have shopping center frontage and be located beside a future Staples location. The store's timetable for moving is unknown.
