Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 21, 1993 TAG: 9311220257
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV11 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Roger Jenkins was on hand Nov. 11 for the grand opening of the chain's 144th store in the Lee-Hi Plaza on E. Main Street. But he said there was some concern over whether the store would be ready by the announced opening date.
The building was built to house a Maxway department store, which fled when a bigger Kmart opened nearby. The next occupant was the Big Lots discount store, which eventually withdrew to cover about half the building.
That was when the renovation work started on the other half.
Then came the unpacking of the merchandise and preparation of displays for opening day. ``I knew it was going to be a very close race,'' Jenkins said.
``Surely you must feel a lot of pride and accomplishment in what you have done over the last three weeks,'' he told the employees just before the grand opening. ``You know how many thousands of crates came in. You know how many clothes you folded and refolded.''
The bright interior of the store surprised visitors after it opened. The well-lighted and brightly-furnished interior looked nothing like the drab blank walls that Goody's had started with.
``Comment after comment was `I can't believe what's here,''' Jenkins said.
``I know when word got around that Goody's was coming to town, we were holding our breath,'' Vice Mayor Tom Bralley said, with people wondering aloud if it was true.
``We know you'll make a good corporate member of this community,'' County Administrator Billy Branson told Jenkins and store manager Debbie Sullivan.
Tommy Dunn, representing the Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce at the opening, said the first comment he heard at his house when he said Goody's was opening was, ``We're going shopping.''
by CNB