THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 1, 1995 TAG: 9503010445
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEPHANIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Circuit City, which last year nixed a Norfolk site for its new used-car venture, is now considering a property in Chesapeake's Greenbrier section, real estate sources say.
The Greenbrier area is similar to the Richmond suburb of Henrico County, where the nation's largest consumer appliance retailer opened its first CarMax near its headquarters.
But there's a catch: Circuit City would have to relocate at least one neighboring retailer to get access to Battlefield Boulevard. The company also would need to convince city officials that it won't make the already heavily traveled road look like one of its own used-car lots.
Any major plans for that property will have to include a creative traffic solution, said Bernie Whitlock, the city's traffic engineer. Otherwise, he said, there won't be an entryway from Battlefield.
The property, across the street from a Wal-Mart shopping center, is part of an estate. Trustee Betty Darden Hodges said she had heard of Circuit City's interest in the land.
The 25-acre property was assessed at $1.9 million last year, according to city real estate records.
Hodges said that Henry Faison, a developer from Charlotte, had an option to buy the property. Originally, Faison intended to build a shopping center there, city officials said.
Faison and a Circuit City spokeswoman could not be reached Tuesday.
The Greenbrier site won't necessarily be home to CarMax: The Auto Superstore. Circuit City has considered and decided against several other potential locations in Hampton Roads.
Last summer, Circuit City ditched a proposal to build CarMax along Kempsville Road in Norfolk. Company officials were concerned about the irregular shape of the proposed site and questioned whether the giant used-car lot would be able to expand from the 12-acre site.
``As we choose sites, we're doing so very carefully,'' spokesman Paul Rakov said at the time. ``Because this is a test, we're moving slowly.''
CarMax has a no-haggle policy, and customers can use a computer directory to browse through automobiles at the dealership. It boasts a huge selection of 500 cars and trucks.
The company's first used-car lot opened just outside of Richmond and its second in Raleigh. It plans to open two CarMaxes in Atlanta and has expressed interest in both the Charlotte and Hampton Roads markets. ILLUSTRATION: Color map
by CNB