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

DATE: FRIDAY, September 10, 1993                   TAG: 9309100098
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TOO MUCH SUCCESS, HERE; LET THE TENANTS TAKE OVER

In June, Falls opened an antiques mall in the former Roanoke Wood Preservers building on Orange Avenue Northeast.

The Bedford resident found demands of the six-day-a-week operation more than he had bargained for. But the dealers who had rented spaces from him were happy with the arrangement.

"Every month, gross sales grew," Falls said Thursday. "But me trying to tackle that entire project as one person was far more labor-intensive than what I had imagined."

The upshot is that Falls is looking into other business options and the 14 antiques dealers who rented from him have formed a cooperative venture to keep the place open.

They said the site across from the popular Libby Hill Seafood restaurant and on highly traveled U.S. 460 was proving to be good.

"Everybody made money in this place except the owner, because he bit off more than he could chew," said Bill Zonza, whose wife, Mary Lou Zonza, is vice president of the new corporation, Roanoke Antique Mall Inc.

The corporation will take over Falls' lease and keep the mall open Tuesdays through Sundays. A spokesman said there are eight inside stalls still to be rented. This weekend the group will rent $5 "yard sale" spaces to residents who want to set up a one-time shop at the mall.

Occupants include several established dealers who have shops in other locations, as well as some first-time sellers, such as June Mooreman of Vinton.

Mooreman opened her first antiques shop when Falls began his project. She has been named president of the new corporation.