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

DATE: FRIDAY, July 7, 1995                   TAG: 9507070042
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MAG POFF STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CHAIN TO CLOSE STORE

Stan Cross, president of the consumer electronics chain, said the corporate offices, delivery service and appliance warehouse will move to the company's superstore across from Valley View by the end of August.

Holdren's Service Center will remain temporarily at the Franklin Road location, but it will move to Valley View when the property is sold.

The 32,000-square-foot Franklin Road property will be sold to generate capital Holdren's needs to complete a variety of projects geared toward improving customer services, Cross said. Along with the main building, Holdren's will sell the adjacent Guild automotive shop on Franklin Road.

Cross said some potential buyers have looked at the property, but there are ``no real prospects yet.'' Chris Nelson and Ed Hall of Hall Associates Inc. are marketing agents for the property.

The Hunting Hills Plaza store, which the company said ``never reached Holdren's performance expectations,'' will close following an inventory reduction sale that begins today.

Cross said sales were ``fairly good'' when the store opened about 31/2 years ago, but ``tended to deteriorate in volume.'' He attributed the outlet's problems to its small size, which meant Holdren's could not offer as wide a selection as at other stores.

The moves will not affect Holdren's operations in Vinton, the New River Valley, Lynchburg and Martinsville. The company closed its Charlottesville store last year.

But in Roanoke, Cross said, Holdren's must ``tighten up expenses and do the prudent things we need to do.''