Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 22, 1995 TAG: 9502220055
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-13 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Short
``I wanted something with less stress and something that I kind of believe in,'' he said.
So now he is manager of the new General Nutrition Center in Pulaski's Memorial Square Shopping Center, which is coming close to having all its buildings filled with stores of various kinds.
Keister opened the last weekend in January, which also brought a snow and ice storm. ``We did pretty well that day. I was surprised,'' he said.
The nearest General Nutrition stores are in Bluefield, W.Va., and Christiansburg. Keister said that leaves a big gap from which he hopes to draw customers.
The store carries vitamins, herbs, minerals, health foods, books, weight and fitness supplements, and eventually will sell some weight equipment.
``One thing I've noticed is that this community likes herbal teas,'' Keister said. The store carries several shelves of various teas.
Keister's wife is from this area and works as an accountant with the Carilion Health System in Roanoke. He thought that he could pass as a native, too, but people kept commenting, ``You're not from around here, are you?''
He finally figured out how they knew. ``I was mispronouncing `Pulaski,''' he said.
by CNB