ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, September 1, 1996              TAG: 9609030014
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 

NEW TO THE VALLEY

Owner: Martha Curry

Location: 221 Progress St., Blacksburg

Phone: 552-9218

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. for dining; 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. for the dance club.

The business: Curry's goal is to create a place for fine dining and dancing. The restaurant has been open for about a month, and the dance floor upstairs opens Wednesday.

While Blacksburg has lots of restaurants, Curry believes there is room for an establishment that offers fine dining and a Sunday brunch, especially downtown, and for a restaurant that targets professionals and older diners. "This is a great place. It's within walking distance to the campus. It's within walking distance to the downtown business community," she said of the building, which formerly housed Greek and later Dundrum Bay restaurants. She also thinks there aren't enough places to dance in the community. Impaxx will offer a variety of music and dancing options, possibly including ballroom. The upstairs also has pool tables and will show sports on the weekends.

Owner's Bio: Curry, 36, is a licensed professional counselor who has private offices in Christiansburg and Hillsville. Originally from Harrisonburg, she has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in clinical psychology from Radford University. She has no restaurant experience and will leave the day-to-day duties to her managers, but thinks her location is a prime spot. "There is a market for a dance club in this area with a large dance floor," she said.

LENGTH: Short :   37 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  headshot of Curry