ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, August 7, 1996 TAG: 9608070018
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: ELISSA MILENKY STAFF WRITER
The new, consolidated Grand Piano & Furniture store in Christiansburg officially will open its doors Thursday.
The Roanoke-based retailer announced in March that it was closing its downtown Blacksburg and Radford locations to consolidate its New River Valley business into one large store along the U.S. 460-Peppers Ferry Road retail corridor in northern Christiansburg.
The new store, which includes appliances, electronics, bedding and home furniture, is in a 40,000-square-foot building left vacant by the Heironimus department store.
Most of the 22 employees at the new store are from the Blacksburg and Radford locations, though a few extra workers were hired, said Stephen Davis, the company's vice president. Only minimal renovation work was needed on the former department store.
Grand Piano consolidated its downtown stores into a single location in Christiansburg because the Radford and Blacksburg locations were too small and did not allow the company to show off its full line of wares, company officials said.
The announcement was expected in Radford and Blacksburg, but the relocation still created holes in both downtowns that still have not been filled.
Grand Piano closed its Radford store, which had been in operation since 1951, in April and the 9,200-square-foot building has since remained empty. The real estate agent who is handling the property was out of town and could not be reached for comment.
Jill Barr, Radford's director of economic development, said several local businesses have expressed interest in moving into the larger space but she has not heard of a final deal. She would prefer another retail store in the building.
The 25,000-square-foot Blacksburg store, which occupies a visible and distinctive spot on Main Street, was vacated by Grand Piano in late July. Town Manager Ron Secrist said he has been in weekly contact with the building's owner, Henderson, N.C.-based Emrose Corp., about placing a general merchandise retailer in the space.
Secrist and Mayor Roger Hedgepeth even met with a general merchandiser in Raleigh, N.C., several months ago, but the trip ultimately proved unsuccessful.
"Obviously it's an important facility and we would like to see it utilized," Secrist said. "It serves as an anchor downtown.
Officials from the Emrose Corp., an investment company founded by a member of the Rose family, are planning a trip to Blacksburg within the next month and an official marketing campaign will begin after that, said Patty Lenehan, who is heading the leasing effort.
Before Grand Piano took over the building during the 1980s, the space was occupied by Roses Department Store.
Lenehan said the company will be targeting a general merchandiser for the space. Emrose Corp. is involved in downtown redevelopment in Henderson, N.C., where the company is headquartered, she added.
"We feel strongly about keeping downtowns strong and keeping downtown retail strong," she said.
"We want to do something that's good for Blacksburg."
Grand Piano operates 20 stores in Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee and South Carolina and was ranked the 10th largest furniture retailer in the South by Furniture Today.
LENGTH: Medium: 67 linesby CNB