Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 23, 1993 TAG: 9310260319
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
The Main Street board, at its meeting Thursday, discussed whether it will be necessary to cut back on some of the advertising for the downtown shopping area until its budget is back in the black.
It is a step some board members are reluctant to take. The advertising on billboards, regional magazines and elsewhere has been successful in bringing shoppers to Pulaski for new shops selling antiques and collectibles as well as stores and businesses that existed before last year's boom in new store openings.
That boom is attributed to the Main Street program under Roscoe Cox, a retired business executive who agreed to become its part-time director last year. Cox has said he will step down from the position early next year.
Debbie Jonas, who moved her Colony of Virginia store from Wythe County to Pulaski at Cox's urging, said many of her customers learned of the new stores through the advertising.
``They say `We came off the interstate to come here,''' Jonas said.
She said she would agree to the temporary suspension of some magazine advertising only if a target date is set to consider reinstating it.
``I agree, said Karen Graham, whose Somethin' Fishy pet store predated the downtown revival. ``I don't think it should be thrown away and never picked up again.''
Nancy Sexton-Bowman, executive director of the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, agreed. ``The visibility's unbelievable.''
She said the chamber is getting telephone calls not only about the new antique stores but places such as Ellery's featuring music and the new restaurants.
by CNB