ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 29, 1996 TAG: 9612300021
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
TGIF store to close in Blacksburg
BLACKSBURG - TGIF clothing store on Main Street in downtown Blacksburg will close in early January because its parent company is going out of business.
Replacing the store in Blacksburg's central business district will be a restaurant, TGIF employees say. Officials from HCMF, the real estate company that manages the property, were unavailable for comment.
The store is closing because of rising costs and declining quality of the discount clothing it sells, said manager Derek Deasy. The store increased its customer base after moving to the downtown street-front location from an upstairs spot two blocks up Main Street more than a year ago, but increased costs and competition cut into its bottom line
"I really think the super stores have hurt the smaller businesses and hurt the downtowns," Deasy said. He also mentioned parking problems in Blacksburg as being a problem for the store.
The chain, which operated stores stores throughout Southwest Virginia and in Chapel Hill, N.C., had already closed some locations and is in the process of closing the rest.
Chamber plans trip to visit Assembly
BLACKSBURG - The Blacksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce's second legislative trip to Richmond will be Jan. 15.
All chamber members are invited to participate in the event, which be a chance to lobby lawmakers and receive information from them. The agenda includes visits to legislative offices and committees, and a group photograph with Gov. George Allen. Participants will leave Blacksburg at 6 a.m. and return at 8:30 p.m.
The $115 fee includes bus transportation, breakfast, dinner, refreshments and the photograph.
For more information, call the chamber at 552-4061.
Floyd banker named to banking council
FLOYD - Leon Moore, president and chief executive officer of the Bank of Floyd, has been appointed to the Community Banker's Council of the American Bankers Association.
Council members advise the association on issues important to the nation's 9,000 community banks, such as how emerging technologies may change the way customers access banks. Members also provide input on legislative and regulatory matters.
Moore began his career in banking in 1962 at the First National Bank of Sullivan County, Tenn. He joined the Bank of Floyd in 1988 and become CEO in 1990.
The American Bankers Association is the only group serving community banks and large bank holding companies. About 94 percent of the association's members are community banks with assets of less than $500 million.
Vet college dean given regional honor
BLACKSBURG - Peter Eyre, dean of Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, has been awarded the 1996 Compass Award by the Blue Ridge Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
One of two awards in the Roanoke society's first professional recognition competition, the Compass Award was created in order to recognize a regional executive whose leadership demonstrated support for the role public relations plays in the promotion of organizational success.
Homebuilders to hold banquet Jan. 18
BLACKSBURG - The President's Banquet and Installation Ceremony for the New River Home Builders Association will be Jan. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Blacksburg.
The cost is $25 per person. For more information, call the association at 381-0180.
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Moore, Eyreby CNB