Roanoke's thrifty lonelyhearts were broken last Friday, when a local Wal-Mart abruptly ended its weekly match-making event called "Singles Shopping." As when any relationship ends, many were left to wonder, "Why?"

"We did it for a brief period of time and now it's time to move on," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Sharon Weber said.

The chain had received "some comments that weren't exactly positive" in response, Weber said. She declined to directly link them with the end of "Singles Shopping."

She did not specify what any of the complaints had been, or why the event was canceled after a month.

"It was a district decision that was made to stop doing that," Weber said, adding that it had been scheduled only for a limited time anyway.

The Wal-Mart on Franklin Road (U.S. 220) had been the first in the country to offer "Singles Shopping," where eligible shoppers tied red bows to their shopping carts and mingled at "flirt points." Similar matchmaking events have been held at Wal-Marts in Germany and South Korea.

Weber said Wal-Mart customers can expect other forms of "retailtainment," such as Oreo stacking and bubble blowing contests.