THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502170232
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Town Talk
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
In observance of St. Valentine's Day, Old Country Buffet restaurant in Western Branch offered a free meal to any couple who could produce a marriage license proving they had been married for 50 years or more.
``I had to look for our license,'' said Jean Bittner, ``but we certainly did want to take advantage of the offer.''
Bittner has been married to husband Bill for 54 years.
``It was so thoughtful of them, that I thought they should get credit for doing something so nice,'' Bittner said.
Before dinner, the couple posed for a photo in front a backdrop decorated with hearts. Later, they'll be able to take the photos home.
``That was Country Buffet's gift to us,'' she said. ``This is such a nice thing for old people.''
Shorting the switch
Just off Interstate 64 at Battlefield Boulevard, motorists are greeted at one busy Chesapeake intersection with quite possibly the largest three-dimensional light switch they've ever seen.
The huge Lowe's home improvement store billboard declares, ``The Switch is On!''
Just a few yards down the road, facing northbound traffic, a sign for Lowe's competitor HQ competes for the attention of customers.
The HQ/Lowe's advertising blitz has gone on for some time now - both superstores claiming to have the best service and lowest prices for things like space heaters, drill bits and mulch.
But wait. A much more modest sign further down Battlefield Boulevard has something to say.
``Cooke Hardware . . . the Switch is Off,'' the sign reads.
The sign compares Cooke's price on crabgrass preventer with those of its two giant competitors.
Some socks to go with that?
Since Bootleggers shoe store in the Farm Fresh shopping center across from Chesapeake General Hospital changed its name, it's been turning heads. That's because its new name is ``Hofheimers Express.''
Two red lines flank the word ``express'' in the sign above the store.
How fast is too fast to buy shoes? Why do people need shoes in such a hurry?
``We get questions all day, every day,'' admitted sales associate Catrina Watson.
The new ``express'' stores are characterized by their convenient strip mall location, said Larry Dronette, the store's manager. ``It's a lot more convenient for shoppers who don't want to go to the mall,'' he said. ``They like the idea of not having to look for parking and walk all that way.''
The ``express'' stores also work a little differently than the traditional shoe stores. Their open shelving allows shoppers to find their own sizes and try shoes on without assistance. It's a sort of self-serve type shop, though sales assistants are always available, Watson said.
The ``express'' name is the butt of a lot of jokes though.
``Now there's a novel concept,'' Dronette said. ``We should have a drive-thru window.''
- Eric Feber and Patricia Huang by CNB