ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, November 17, 1996 TAG: 9611190129
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER
Construction of three buildings on Blacksburg's University City Boulevard off Prices Fork Road - and more development on the horizon - is bringing new business and customers to the 22-year-old commercial center across from the Virginia Tech campus.
"That area sat for many years in need of exactly what's taking place," said Harvey Shepherd, executive director of the Blacksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The new businesses should help the area's existing businesses, and the widening of Prices Fork Road should give a boost to all the firms in that area of town, he said.
University Mall and clusters of commercial buildings across University City Boulevard have drawn shoppers with a mix of clothing boutiques, bookstores, restaurants and the town's largest grocery store. But the departure of Rose's and Heironimus department stores from the mall in 1994 left large commercial spaces unoccupied. The opening of Volume II Bookstore the following year in the old Heironimus space and expansion of the Kroger's grocery store began a resurgence.
The recent development is across the boulevard from the mall. Construction on three commercial buildings is nearing completion and a fourth building, which has stood empty for several years, has been bought and is being renovated as office space at a cost of $2.4 million. The Rose's site is the only major unoccupied commercial space.
Many of the businesses moving into the area are "niche oriented," said Ron Secrist, Blacksburg town manager. "I think it's going to be very difficult for the community to attract a traditional department store."
Nevertheless, he said, "We're pleased with the additional activity that's occurring there."
The first of the new buildings to be completed is at 810 University City Blvd., behind Blockbuster. It features Zeppoli's Italian restaurant, a self-serve laundry and Virginia Tech offices. Owner Bob Pack plans to move his Point West Management office there. Upstairs are 20 one-bedroom apartments. A tanning salon is set to open in January, leaving only one retail space in the building that has not been filled. A sign near the road that is to go up soon should give the building more visibility, Pack said.
A second building nearby, at 820 University City Blvd., will be completed Jan. 1. Also owned by Pack, it will be a branch office for Medical Associates of Southwest Virginia, housing the medical practice of Drs. Bruce Birch and Julie Neely, a counseling office and Virginia Tech offices.
Pack, who owns a variety of commercial, retail and residential properties in Blacksburg, including Gables Shopping Center, owns two other buildings near the mall, which were constructed in 1990 and 1991. They house Virginia Tech offices and Blacksburg Day Care and Child Development Center, owned by his wife, Barbara.
Fronting University City Boulevard is a Rite Aid pharmacy, under construction. Due to open Jan. 6, the 10,752-square-foot store will feature a drive-through pharmacy window, personal care items and cosmetics, one-hour photo processing and a business center that provides express mail service. The pharmacy will employ 15 to 20 people and will be open seven days a week, said Sarah Datz, spokeswoman for Rite Aid, the nation's largest pharmacy chain with more than 2,700 stores in the East and Midwest. Across the road is Revco, the nation's second largest pharmacy chain with more than 2,000 stores.
Soon to occupy the former University City Office Building behind the Marriott is New River Community Services. Up to 125 full-time employees will work in the building when the New River Valley's largest social services provider moves in, perhaps in May.
According to University Mall's property managers, a tenant for the long-vacant Roses space may be on the horizon. Steve Brown, with Kane Realty Corp. in Raleigh, N.C., said his firm is negotiating with potential tenants.
"We're working on a couple of things," he said. Talks "are moving along quite nicely." He would not say with whom Kane is negotiating, but said an announcement could be made within a month.
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. ALAN KIM STAFF Fronting University City Boulevard isby CNBa Rite Aid pharmacy, scheduled to open Jan. 6. It will feature a
drive-through pharmacy window, personal care items and cosmetics,
one-hour photo processing and a business center that provides
express mail service. color
2. map of University Boulevard. colro ROBERT LUNSFORD STAFF