THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 17, 1996 TAG: 9603150233
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 122 lines
DOWNTOWN SUFFOLK Association director Robert Chisom is having spring fever.
There's no sneezing, just excitement over the certain signs of rejuvenation he sees all around the once-ailing city core. Businesses are relocating from other areas, new companies are choosing to open on Main and Washington streets, dilapidated buildings are being renovated, people are investing in downtown.
While several business deals have been finalized, others are still being negotiated.
Last week, Chisom announced news that delighted many who work and shop downtown: A lunch counter would re-open this summer in the former Nansemond Drug Co. on Main Street.
The demise of the city's last downtown lunch counter in February was a blow to many downtown workers, who questioned the closure as construction of a new city courts complex is planned for later this year.
Many felt that more places to eat would be needed with more people working downtown.
But Rite Aid Pharmacy bought the 91-year-old family drug store and closed down the grill. The drug company officials last week confirmed plans to move Rite Aid-Nansemond to the national chain's new facility being built about eight blocks away.
That move - planned for June - opened up new possibilities for a new operator to take over the lunch counter and use the rest of the store for a compatible retail space.
To achieve that, Chisom has been negotiating with the Rite Aid-Nansemond building's owner and prospective tenants interested in re-opening the lunch counter. The choice had been narrowed to two, he said, and both parties want to lease the entire store, which contains about 3,000 square feet.
Chisom believes the revival of the lunch operation and other recent openings and plans for the downtown area are positive signs of growth and revitalization.
Other downtown developments include:
Superior Designs by Ray Inc., which opened March 1 at 116 N. Saratoga Street. Ray Bennett relocated the family business from Godwin Boulevard, where it had been for five years.
He and his wife, Lorrie - who works full-time for a CPA firm in Chesapeake and does the bookkeeping for the florist shop, wanted a more central location for delivery purposes. Plus, they felt the downtown location would generate more walk-in traffic, he said.
``And we wanted to be a part of helping bring back downtown to what it once was,'' he said.
The family spent two months renovating the former photography shop.
``We used 38 gallons of paint and we've still got some touching up to do,'' he said.
They sell fresh flowers, permanent arrangements, wreaths, baskets and gifts. He and three other designers work at the shop preparing arrangements for weddings, funerals and all types of special occasions. His mother, Ann Bennett, runs the office.
The store is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday and 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
T.S. Steele Manufacturers Marketing Group, which opened recently in the former offices of The Virginian-Pilot at 101 S. Saratoga Street.
The businesses are located in a corner of the first floor of the building. Tom Steele, a Suffolk native, coordinates three import-export companies with business throughout North and South America, Europe, Taiwan, Korea and Thailand.
B J LEE Gallery of Arts, which is expected to open in April in the old Brewer Jewelry store at 156 W. Washington Street.
B.J. Ricks, who operates a bridal shop in the same block, is spearheading the effort along with organizers of Save Our Children, a local foundation started last fall.
``Works of various artists will be on display in an every-changing display,'' Ricks said.
Local and regional artists will be featured, as well as others, she said.
The shop will include an assortment of art - mainly oils - for viewing; gifts for sale - including prints, collectibles, porcelain dolls and figurines, a framing area and a floral design service.
Proceeds from the gallery will be used to create a computer tutoring center for children who do not have computers at home. The center would also be housed in the shop, though details of the plans are still being developed.
``We are reaching toward doing something for the children,'' Ricks said. ``The proceeds from the art and the activities will spawn the compu-tutoring center for Save Our Children.''
Shooting Star Studio and Gallery, which will open later this spring at 118 N. Main Street.
The first floor, which was formerly occupied by Central Dental Laboratory Ltd., is being renovated. The lab was moved to the second floor.
The upscale gallery, which will concentrate on showing regional artists, will include a frame shop, said Brenda Wright, co-owner of both the gallery and dental lab. The displays will change every six weeks.
``I'll start with my own work,'' said Wright, whose medium is color photography.
She and her partner, Bill Barrera, opened the dental lab 11 years ago, and recently decided to moved the manufacturing operation upstairs to make room for the art gallery on the first floor, which would be accessible from the street.
The lab, which employs 14 people, handles orders from dentists and doctors.
Wright also has a studio and frame shop in Norfolk.
The gallery will include the gamut of art work: painting, sculpture, ceramics, origami, jewelry, photography and other types of creative expressions.
The gallery will have openings for each artist ``just like the larger museums and galleries,'' she said.
When the courthouse is completed, she hopes to have a showing of drawings and paintings of historic scenes of downtown Suffolk.
Hours for the gallery are planned for 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Like many of the business people investing in the city's central business district, Wright is optimistic about the future of downtown Suffolk.
``The sky's the limit in downtown Suffolk right now,'' she said. ``The Gallery, I hope, will be a part of bringing people back downtown.'' ILLUSTRATION: File photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Nansemond Drug Co. on Main Street, left, may house a lunch counter
again. Washington Street, left, is also the site of new businesses.
by CNB