Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 16, 1993 TAG: 9307160205
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
"It was a tough decision for our board of directors, but our customers like to shop on Sunday and we're here to serve them," said Dick Workman.
Most Leggett department stores will start opening Sundays permanently beginning this weekend.
The family-owned Leggett chain was the last major retail holdout against Sunday openings.
Leggett vigorously fought the repeal of Virginia's Blue Laws that had prohibited most types of Sunday retail sales. The company argued that Sunday was a day for family and religion.
Tom Sheets, manager of the New River Valley Mall, said all of the mall's stores will benefit from Leggett's Sunday openings.
"We are excited and pleased," Sheets said.
Jim Smith, manager of Hofheimer's shoe store, said he expects the mall's stores' sales to increase on Sunday with Leggett's opening.
"It probably will help some because their will be more shoppers in the mall," he said.
Smith's opinion was echoed by Gary Winebarger, assistant manager at Champ's Sports.
"I'm glad to see them do that," he said. "Sunday's always been a good day for us and hopefully this will make it better."
Leggett experimented with Sunday operations last fall and said that the customer response had been positive.
Workman said he got only a few negative comments from shoppers upset that Leggett had decided to open on Sunday.
"Sunday is family day and it's generally a good shopping day," Workman said.
Workman said that none of the store's 100 sales associates would have to work more than one Sunday a month, and that they all would be able to attend church every week.
Leggett's Sunday operating hours will be from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.
by CNB