Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 18, 1993 TAG: 9309180099
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Richard Lynn, president of the Roanoke-based deparment store, said sales at the Blacksburg store have dropped by more than $1 million since the mid-1980s, mainly because of the New River Valley Mall, which opened in 1988.
"The whole complexion of retail has changed in the New River Valley," he said. "This is a move we had to make for the long-term benefit of our company."
Heironimus' departure leaves Roses Inc. _ which recently filed for bankruptcy - as the only department store in Blacksburg that hasn't closed or relocated to the area near the intersection of U.S. 460 and Virginia 114.
Leggett left for the New River Valley Mall when it opened and Kmart built a new Christiansburg store in 1992.
Town Manager Ron Secrist said he was unhappy, but not surprised at Heironimus' decision to leave Blacksburg.
"It's disappointing to have a quality store like Heironimus to expand, but do it elsewhere," he said.
At 40,000 square feet, the new store nearly doubles the 25,000-square-foot University Mall space.
Lynn said the new Heironimus store will be located between Kmart and Wal-Mart, right beside a Wade's Supermarket that's to open next year.
It will be a lot of competition, he said, "but those are the kinds of risks you have to take."
Heironimus has been in University Mall since 1974, but the relationship between the two has deteriorated as store after store left the mall in the late 1980s.
The mall has slowly filled back up in recent years, but many of the new tenants - like the Virginia Tech Weight Club, New River Valley Playmakers and New River Community College - are non-retail.
That's not a very appealing trend to Lynn.
"The tenant base has just sort of evaporated," he said. "They don't seem to give a hoot whether you are there or not."
University Mall manager Mary Ann Nunn was caught off guard Friday when told Heironimus would be leaving next year.
"Do what," was her first reaction, then she declined to comment. The store's lease runs until 1995.
Heironimus has been looking for a new location for several years, the president said, and considered moving into the New River Valley Mall after Hess Inc. left a 65,000-square-foot space in May.
He said an agreement couldn't be reached because the mall's mortgage holders in New York weren't familiar with the store. The mall is owned by Crown America Corp.
"They're from New York and we're just down here in little old Roanoke," he said of the mortgage holders. Peebles Inc. took over the former Hess store and opened this week.
Lynn said the bigger Heironimus store will offer expanded selections in men's and women's clothes and add a children's department.
He expects to move in by Aug. 1.
by CNB