ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 7, 1996 TAG: 9604080078
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: New River Journal
SOURCE: ELIZABETH OBENSHAIN
What does it say about our community when the hottest event of the spring is the opening of a Wal-Mart Supercenter?
Sounds like the first line of one of those redneck jokes, but it's just reality here in the New River Valley.
Although I've never been much of a rebel, I resisted the flow of humanity sucked as if by an irresistible force into Wal-Mart these last few days.
From the newspaper parking lot next to this low-cost mecca, I've marveled at the number of new Cadillacs that cruised by, fearlessly piloted into the Wal-Mart lot by perfectly coiffed matrons.
For myself, I decided my shopping would have nothing to do with large national chains. Come weekends, I like to relax and stroll my town.
It's still possible in downtown Blacksburg to satisfy most of my weekend needs.
Heavener's Hardware always tempts me - it's that flashy outdoor display of new wheelbarrows.
A few months ago, one of the nice men behind the counter who understands the mysteries of nuts and bolts spent five minutes helping me find just the right bolt to fix my hedge trimmer. For his service, the store earned a whopping 40 cents.
I don't want to lose that sort of store, so I determined to spend my dollars there last weekend when I needed a mop, a new garden spade and a dust mask. I might have bought these items at a discount store. But if you add in the junk I would have thrown into the cart out of whimsy, I probably spent less shopping at Heavener's.
Then, after a morning of spring cleaning in the garage, sorting through my father's unique collection of Paraquat and other toxic surprises, I ditched my sweats and decided to indulge in that time-honored female rite of clothes shopping.
My favorite stores, Bonomos, Fringe Benefit, Second Seasons, are all near downtown. I can shop and visit at the same time, catch up with what's going on around town while sorting through pink flowered sweater sets and linen shorts.
By the time I'd browsed all three stores, I'd used up so much of the afternoon I could start thinking of dinner.
For the first time this day, I deserted downtown Blacksburg and headed to the Morning Glory Cafe - drawn by both the fine food and the courage shown by a couple in opening a gourmet restaurant in the village of Cambria.
On our way, my husband and I cruise past fast-food stops too numerous to count, resisting the temptation to do a progressive dinner of fried foods from 10 different drive-throughs.
As we stand outside Morning Glory, looking at the amazing cluster of historic buildings that have survived along the town's railroad line, I realize these downtown businesses are also preserving the feel of our towns.
No national chains would invest in these buildings; only locals will take the sort of risk and endure the headaches needed to shape their businesses to one of these fine old buildings.
Heading back home, the devil, in the shape of my husband, tempts me into the Wal-Mart lot, into the brightly lit cavern of shopping aisles and checkout stands.
It's the epitome of mass merchandising.
It's shopping as a new all-American sport each of us can master no matter how out of shape. I confess. I bought. But in the future, I'll leave it to others.
For me, it's the small-town satisfactions that I savor.
Elizabeth Obenshain is editor of the New River Valley bureau of The Roanoke Times.
LENGTH: Medium: 71 linesby CNB