Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 29, 1994 TAG: 9404290115
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BY RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FAIRLAWN LENGTH: Medium
Citing the strength-in-numbers maxim, Mumpower told the group at Golden Corral restaurant, "I want to make sure that next time, I'm taken seriously and that businesses are taken seriously."
Monday night, Mumpower butted heads with City Council over whether to ask the state to consider putting up a temporary bridge while repairs are under way. She didn't think the final wording of a council letter to the Virginia Department of Transportation was specific enough.
Most of the meeting Thursday focused on how to cope with the economic havoc. A representative of the owners of Radford Plaza, the larger of Fairlawn's two shopping centers, floated plans for a $500 giveaway to persuade shoppers to detour around the bridge.
Kmart regional manager Mike Pugh told the merchants to promote heavily. "You need to give the customer a reason to come over here," he stressed.
Another participant suggested a crafts fair to attract shoppers. A shuttle bus scheme also came up, but there were no firm plans by meeting's end.
The Kroger store already is offering triple value on coupons.
Mumpower and others said they wanted repair work to start right away and to continue around the clock.
"We don't want to get in a situation ... where people change their shopping patterns," warned John Zienius, a Radford Shopping Plaza automotive and household appliance dealer. He said it was hard to put on a smile for customers "like nothing's going on."
Zienius also suggested Fairlawn merchants patronize each other during the bridge crisis, which is expected to last at least until mid-May. Some called for a grand celebration on the bridge when the repairs are finished.
"A couple of us last Thursday felt like jumping off the bridge," Zienius remarked.
Executive Motel proprietor Mani Panjan might have been among them. He reported he's lost 90 percent of his business, which depends on Fairlawn's direct link to Interstate 81. Only his Radford University graduation weekend reservations have held. "They don't have any other choice," he said.
Blacksburg resident and retired Virginia Tech electrical engineering professor Mort Nadler also showed up at the meeting. "It should never have gotten to this point," he said of the bridge's deteriorating condition.
Nadler asserted the state's bridges need $20 million in repairs. He said that work should proceed "so it doesn't get to this point again here and elsewhere."
Mumpower echoed the concern. "They're not talking about building a new bridge. They're talking about repairing an old one," she said. "We need some kind of assurance that this isn't going to happen again next year."
Thursday's gathering could spark interest in a Fairlawn merchants association. The merchants have been invited to return to the restaurant next Thursday at 8 a.m. to talk more about bridge repair progress and joint promotional plans.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***