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

DATE: SATURDAY, January 8, 1994                   TAG: 9401080075
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN BUSINESS

SALISBURY, N.C. - Food Lion said Friday it will close 88 stores in 1994, more than half of them in Texas and Oklahoma, affecting 1,300 full-time and 2,200 part-time employees. One Virginia store, in Norton, will shut on March 12.

"This move comes as a result of a company-wide review of store performance designed to focus our resources on our most productive stores," said Tom Smith, president and chief executive officer.

Most of the displaced workers will be offered employment elsewhere in the company, Smith said. He also said severance packages will be offered to employees who cannot take other jobs with the company.

The announcement came as Food Lion released its fourth-quarter and annual earnings report, which said the company will take a $170 million charge against 1993 earnings to pay for the closings.

For the quarter, Food Lion's same-store sales were up 2.9 percent over the 1992 period. For the year, same-store sales dropped 2.6 percent. - Associated Press Bankruptcy Court receives 8 petitions

Eight petitions with business connections have been filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia in Roanoke:

Cedar Lawn Memorial Park Inc., trading as Franklin Memorial Gardens of Rocky Mount, asked for financial reorganization and protection from creditors. The cemetery company said it has 4,500 creditors. Assets and liabilities were estimated at more than $500,000 each.

In a case transferred from the court in Harrisonburg, Bartley Brothers Corp. of Covington filed for reorganization, listing assets of more than $100,000 and liabilities of more than $500,000.

Solomon Enterprises Inc., trading as Nicklebey's Restaurant of Radford, filed for liquidation, listing assets of $60,460 and liabilities of $104,265.

Nihal S.K. Solomon and Nessie V. Solomon of Radford filed for liquidation, listing assets of $251,240 and liabilities of $267,924. Nihal Solomon is president and treasurer of Solomon Enterprises, and Nessie V. Solomon is its vice president and secretary.

Karl P. Robinson and Jean Robinson of Pilgrims Knob, trading as Jean's Cafe, filed for liquidation. They had assets of $15,250 and liabilities of $27,700.

Chelley Coal Co. Inc., also known as Shelley Coal Co. Inc., listed no assets and liabilities of $122,182. The company, based at Grundy, sought liquidation.

Burning Ridge Coal Co. Inc. of Pikeville, Ky., and Grundy asked for liquidation, estimating assets under $50,000 and liabilities at more than $100,000.

Albert A. Akers of Wytheville, owner of Triple A Tire and Auto, filed for liquidation, listing assets of $12,400 and liabilities of $49,668. - Staff report Briefly . . .

Circuit City Stores Inc. will slash prices and increase its advertising in some major markets as it expands into 60 new markets this year. The nation's largest consumer electronics retailer, which is based in Richmond, said it will begin the aggressive marketing campaign in March. The campaign will target highly competitive markets such as Los Angeles and Chicago.

CFW Communications Co., a Waynesboro telephone and cellular carrier, said Friday its CFW Cable Inc. subsidiary has paid $9.7 million for capital stock of American Quality Cable Corp., a Charlottesville wireless cable telecommunications business. American Quality Cable owns 25 percent of the wireless cable system in the Shenandoah Valley, of which CFW is the majority stockholder.

Advance Auto Parts, a Roanoke-based retail chain selling parts and accessories, said it will open its 356th store Friday at 3759 Challenger Ave., Roanoke.

Vaughn Inc., trading as Dominion Builders, has begun development of Autumn Park, a 28-lot subdivision off U.S. 221 in the Back Creek area of Roanoke County. The houses, on 1-acre lots, are expected to sell for $250,000 to $500,000.

Lewis-Gale Psychiatric Center in Salem said it has been accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Whitescarver-Rodes and Associates, a Roanoke firm of consulting engineers specializing in mechanical, plumbing and electrical-systems design, has adopted a new name, Whitescarver, Hurd and Obenchain. Owners are Charles K. Whitescarver Jr., chief executive officer; Michael B. Hurd, president; John B. Obenchain Jr., vice president; Robert J. Goodwin, secretary; David R. Jones; and William C. Crouse.