Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 3, 1995 TAG: 9509050010
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
CHRISTIANSBURG - It's been a hectic and eye-opening two weeks for Mike Poldiak, the new manager at the New River Valley Mall.
Since starting the job Aug. 16, Poldiak has spent his time in meetings, talking to people and trying to find a place to live. And he has been examining the area's economic geography.
"I've noticed a tremendous opportunity. I see a lot of growth. I see a lot of new housing developments going up, and I've noticed a lot of new stores coming into the area."
The newest development coming to the mall property is a Red Lobster restaurant now in design and planning stages, Poldiak said. Representatives of Outback Steakhouse restaurants have also notified him that they intend to locate in Christiansburg.
The valley's retail market is "unique. There is such a mix," Poldiak said, citing the area's large number of both younger and older people.
Tapping into the market will be Poldiak's challenge. "The ideal thing for the mall is to find the mix that fits everybody."
Poldiak, 43, formerly was corporate controller for the Johnstown, Pa.-based Crown American Corp., owner of the mall. The previous mall manager, Tom Sheets, has returned to his native Tennessee with his wife.
Poldiak's work may be cut out for him. The 499,000-square-foot mall has a 72 percent occupancy rate. Crown American's other holdings average about 85 percent occupancy, he said.
The area's biggest retail news, the construction of a 200,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter across Peppers Ferry Road from the mall is good news, Poldiak said.
He has already noticed that the intersection of Peppers Ferry Road and U.S. 460 "gets pretty crazy," limiting the number of shoppers who would stop first at the current Wal-Mart in the Marketplace and then at the mall.
Moreover, while Wal-Mart may cost the mall some shoppers, "The business that it did take, we've felt that already."
The bottom line, he said, is "I believe that having it on the same side of the street is going to be beneficial to us."
New doctors named
CHRISTIANSBURG - Three new doctors are affiliated with Montgomery Regional Hospital and area private practices.
Joseph D. Fisher, a pediatrician, received his medical degree from the University of Virginia. A native of Staunton, he completed his internship and residency at East Carolina University.
Fisher, a graduate of Washington and Lee University, has a special interest in attention deficit and hyperactivity in children. He will conduct a seminar on that topic this fall at the Center for Women's Health Education in the New River Valley Mall. He is affiliated with Pediatric Associates in Blacksburg.
Kevin P. Griffin, who received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he completed his intership and residency, is a urologist specializing in incontinence, impotence and endourology. He is affiliated with Urology Associates of the New River Valley.
Aaron J. Prussin, a graduate of Virginia Tech and the University of Miami School of Medicine in Florida, is affiliated with New River Valley Ear, Nose and Throat Associates.
Prussin, who completed his internship and residency at the University of Tennessee in Memphis, is an otolaryngologist specializing in neck cancer, hearing loss, otitis media and chronic ear disease, sinusitis and sinus surgery, snoring, sleep apnea, facial rejuvenation, and cosmetic surgery of the face.
New officers
CHRISTIANSBURG - The New River Valley Chapter of Professional Secretaries International has new officers.
Brenda Husser, who works in the department of sociology at Virginia Tech, is the president; the president-elect is Ann Scanlan, who works in the Office of Corporate and Government Relations at Radford University. She will become president in May 1996.
Sandra Cockerham is recording secretary. She formerly worked at the Center for Innovative Technology; Carolyn Kirk, who works at Radford University's Graduate College, is corresponding secretary; Glenda Hubbard, who works in the facilities planning and construction department at Virginia Tech, is treasurer; Barbara Townley, who works in Virginia Tech's department of sociology, is assistant treasurer.
The chapter meets on the second Monday of each month at Ryan's restaurant in Christiansburg. An optional dinner is at 6 p.m. with a business meeting at 7 p.m.
For more information, call Brenda Husser at 231-6878.
by CNB