ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, October 12, 1996             TAG: 9610140089
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: A-6  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MAG POFF 

IN BUSINESS

Ex-governor's home goes on the market

Stoneleigh, a Stanleytown mansion once owned by the late Gov. Thomas B. Stanley, is on the market for $1.2 million.

The 16,000-square-foot Tudor home is on a 56-acre tract, according to Ann Marks of Martinsville's Rives S. Brown Realtors. It was built in 1929 and boasts a stone entrance with a hand-carved walnut door.

Marks said the house is being offered either as a residence or as a country inn and restaurant. The owners, Bill and Barbara Topa, have used it as a home since they purchased the property in 1993 for $1.25 million. Marks said the Topas plan to move out of state; their own plans for creating a bed and breakfast inn fell through.

The property was used by Ferrum College as a conference center between 1988 and 1993. Marks said the college valued the property at $2,675,000.

- MAG POFF

Revamped plaza gets first tenant

Tribles Inc., a wholesaler and retailer of American-made appliance parts, will open in about two weeks at the Roanoke-Salem Business Center.

The company will be the first new enterprise to occupy space at the center, which was formerly Roanoke-Salem Plaza, said Chris Nelson of Hall Associates Inc. The property has been converted into a planned development for mixed commercial uses.

Tim Jones, who will manage the Roanoke outlet for Tribles, said the 53-year-old Maryland-based company will occupy about 6,000 square feet.

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