Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 17, 1993 TAG: 9311170028
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
Hardee's is coming to town.
The Rocky Mount, N.C.-based burger chain is planning to build a restaurant on East Main Street at the former location of Floyd Motor Co. It will be the first national restaurant chain in this slow-paced county that prides itself on having only one traffic signal.
Boddie-Noell Enterprises, one of the largest Hardee's franchise operators, is purchasing the site from Lawrence Robbins, who used to run a Chevrolet dealership there.
"We have a contract in Floyd, but we haven't closed on the land," said Jerrie Webb, who works in Boddie-Noell's real estate department.
Robbins said the closing date for the land is to be in early February.
"I haven't got any money in my hip pocket yet . . . but yes, they are going to come," he said.
Some Floyd residents say fast food will be a welcome addition, while others say it's just another infringement on the rural atmosphere that attracts tourists to the county.
"We don't want it," bellowed Margie Michaud, owner of Harvest Moon store. "Tell Hardee's to go find another precious town. We're quickly losing our charm."
Richard Clinger, owner of Floyd's Pharmacy, said he thinks Hardee's can benefit the county, but it may be tough for another restaurant to survive in town.
The county has locally owned restaurants including Blue Ridge Restaurant, Pine Tavern Restaurant, the Floyd Xpress Deli and Bower's Drive-In.
Clinger said he shut down a 20-stool soda fountain at the drugstore three years ago because it wasn't making enough money.
The county, according to 1990 census, has 12,500 residents, 343 of whom live in the town.
"I'd like to see them come," Clinger said. "I'm in favor of anything that helps business."
Webb wouldn't provide details of the deal. She referred all questions to Michael Mosley, vice president of real estate, who was unavailable for comment Tuesday.
Robbins said Boddie-Noell officials already have completed soil borings at the site.
Peggy Howell, manager of Blue Ridge Restaurant, said she welcomes the competition.
"I don't really think it will hurt," she said. "This place has survived for many years."
Jeanie O'Neill, a Floyd artist, said the town needs to develop a historic zone to keep unwanted development - like Hardee's - from moving into Floyd.
"I'm very upset about this," she said. "I don't want to smell hamburgers all the time."
O'Neill, who lives less than a block from the site, also said she fears the fast-food chain know for its homemade buttermilk biscuits will cause property values to drop.
Cathy Battle, co-owner of Sue's Florist - directly across from the site - said Hardee's will be popular with the town's teen-agers.
"Some of the young people don't like the sit-down type places we have now," she said.
That's exactly what Michaud thinks Floyd doesn't need, another teen-agers' hangout.
"But at least it's not an arcade," he said.
County Administrator Randy Arno said the new restaurant could help economic development efforts.
"We need commerce," he said.
by CNB