ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Wednesday, January 24, 1996            TAG: 9601240030
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: B-8  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER 

LONGTIME CITY MARKET FIXTURE IS TRANSPLANTED ACROSS TOWN

MARTIN BROTHERS PRODUCE has a new home on Fifth Street Southwest.

Martin Brothers Produce Co. Inc., long a fixture of Roanoke's City Market, has found a new home on Fifth Street Southwest.

The wholesale and retail grocer operated on the Roanoke City Market for 59 years and in the same location facing the market square for the past 45. Late last year, however, the company's landlord asked it to move to make way for a bagel shop, which will open at the site next to Book Strings & Things in March.

Martin Brothers this week announced it has moved to a much larger space in the old Nehi bottling plant building on Fifth Street between Salem and Campbell avenues. The building was most recently occupied by Barnhill Construction Co.

Martin Brothers president Maynard Haymaker said the company bought the building so it won't have to worry about being asked to move again. He was able to buy it, Haymaker said, for less money than paying to rent retail space on the downtown market.

The 5,000-square-foot, two-story brick building is twice as large as his old location and was remodeled about 10 years ago, Haymaker said. He bought it from another company, Sports Cars of Virginia, which used it for storage.

Haymaker said he was forced to lay off some employees when he lost the City Market location, but said he will be adding workers in the spring. The business currently employs three people, he said.

The company sells within a 50-mile radius of Roanoke. It also serves retail customers on site.

LENGTH: Short :   41 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  DON PETERSEN/Staff. Maynard Haymaker in front of Martin 
          Brothers Produce Co.'s
          new location. color.