ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 19, 1997 TAG: 9701200009
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
Mainstreet Bazaar under new ownership
BLACKSBURG - Mainstreet Bazaar, a landmark in downtown Blacksburg, has a new owner who is planning only minor changes to the store's offerings.
Patricia Hall, 26, worked at the store for two years before Mary Riley sold it to her Jan. 1.
"She will do an excellent job," said Riley, who is preparing to move away from Blacksburg so her husband, a soil scientist, can find work in his field.
Hall said she hasn't "had any negative responses at all" from the store's customers, "which was partially why I knew this was something I should do. married."
Hall plans no "radical changes" to the store, "but I'm sure my personality will shine through." She said she will develop a web page so she can take on-line orders for delivery. And she might expand the store's line of gourmet coffee beans and gift baskets, the most popular items.
The store sells kitchen and cooking items, as well as baskets and a few bath selections. Target customers will continue to be women.
"Women ooooh! and aahhh! in here, and men follow their wives and have that look that men do," Hall said.
Closed Outpost up for sale
CHRISTIANSBURG - The Outpost restaurant, which operated on Roanoke Street in Christiansburg for 36 years, has closed and is for sale after owner Rosalie Wheby was injured in a car accident that left her unable to run the restaurant.
"I was the one who did the hiring and cooking and ordering, and I just couldn't do it," after the Sept. 8 accident that left her with an arm broken in three places, she said. Wheby, who turned 76 Wednesday, was in the hospital for days following the injury and is still recovering, though she said she is feeling much better.
The restaurant is for sale for $500,000, and Wheby has had inquiries. "But no one has the money. ... I know it's worth twice that much. My banker told me that a few years ago."
Wheby's parents were Lebanese, and her restaurant was noted for its Lebanese cuisine, as well as its custom-cut steaks, seafood and Italian food. "Good heavens, the people would love my spaghetti sauce. I would sell it by the gallon."
Wheby said she might open a small shop offering Lebanese bread and Middle Eastern sweets, if she can find a good spot.
"I hated to close [the Outpost]. I miss the people more than anything."
Pharmacy planning to build in Pulaski
PULASKI - A 10,000-square-foot Rite Aid Pharmacy will be built on East Main Street (Virginia 99) where the Brush Arbor Worship Center was formerly located.
A Richmond contractor will construct the $650,000 building. No completion date has been announced.
The building being demolished housed Pulaski County's court facilities for more than a year, while the county's brick courthouse was closed for expansion work. It was originally a Hub Furniture store.
The Brush Arbor Worship Center has already moved to new quarters on Newbern Road in a former Methodist Church building. Emmanuel Christian Bookstore, which moved into the building when court facilities returned to the county courthouse, has relocated in the former Creations by Renee' building.
International marketing subject of seminar
BLACKSBURG - James Hart, president of the Volga-James Co. of Virginia, will conduct a seminar on how to sell and market items in Central and Eastern Europe on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Virginia Tech's Corporate Research Center.
Hart will talk about the economics and politics of the region, how U.S. companies are creating business opportunities there, and specific markets for Virginia companies.
Hart's company, which is based in Charlottesville, matches U.S. firms, especially those in Virginia, with opportunities in Central and Eastern Europe. The company is named for the Volga River, one of the most economically important in Eastern Europe, and for the James River in Virginia.
Attendees are encouraged to bring 50 copies of their company literature, which will be distributed at a Volga-James Institute seminar in Budapest, Hungary, in February, and at the Commonwealth of Virginia Economic Office there and the U.S. Embassy Trade Office.
Tickets are $75 per company, with additional seats for $25. For information, call Hart at 971-2094.
Blacksburg man on steering committee
BLACKSBURG - Robert M. Roberts, president of Olver Incorporated, a Blacksburg environmental engineering firm, has been named to a steering committee of Virginia environmental companies that will help such firms identify opportunities in the state.
The committee was formed by the Center for Innovative Technology in Herndon.
Radford to offer advertising seminar
RADFORD - Radford University's Business Assistance Center will conduct a seminar on "Advertising on a Shoestring" Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 600 H Norwood St.
The seminar will introduce marketing tools and strategies that are available at little or no cost.
The seminar will be presented by Michael Tentnowski, who operated his own business before becoming the center's director of training and development. Previously, he was coordinator of business development programs at Virginia Tech. He earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Montana, and he is the author of "The Virginia Entrepreneur's Guide," a book on how to start and manage a business in Virginia.
The seminar costs $49, which includes a workbook and handouts. Call the center at 831-6056 for information.
Radford Chamber sets membership mixer
RADFORD - The Radford Chamber of Commerce will have a membership mixer Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Farmhouse Restaurant in Christiansburg.
Hors d'oeuvres and drinks will be provided by the restaurant.
Reservations are due Monday at the chamber office. Call 639-2202.
LENGTH: Long : 116 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshots) Hall, Roberts, Tentnowskiby CNB