MORE STORES OPEN DOWNTOWN, FEWER PEOPLE WORKING THERE

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 19, 1992                   TAG: 9202190030
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: GEORGE KEGLEY
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
MORE STORES OPEN DOWNTOWN, FEWER PEOPLE WORKING THERE
More new businesses opened in downtown Roanoke last year but the number of new jobs, construction projects, real estate sales and private investment declined, according to an annual report from Downtown Roanoke Inc.
The promotional group reported Tuesday that the number of businesses closed in 1990 was distorted because an antiques mall ceased operating.
The Mall was the site of a number of small antiques shops.
Also, nearly half the value of downtown real estate transactions in 1990 came from the sale of the Patrick Henry Hotel to New York investors. Private investment in 1990 included millions of dollars for the start of Dominion Tower, the Norfolk Southern building and First Baptist Church on Marshall Avenue.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB