Local Business and Economic Development
Salt Foot Sanctuary – Ian Price photo
The Salt Foot Sanctuary at Hotel Roanoke opened in February but owner Larry Landolt says they had not done a ribbon cutting until this morning. The Salt Foot Sanctuary is open to the public; the Hotel has also put together special packages for its guests. Landolt and the Sanctuary were also featured on an episode of Salvage Dawgs recently with the Black Dog Salvage crew.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Virginia will hold its annual three-day sales tax holiday this weekend.The tax holiday is meant to help families save money on back-to-school purchases and to encourage Virginians to take necessary precautions during hurricane season.Consumers can purchase eligible items from Friday through Sunday without paying state and local sales tax.Eligible products include school supplies that cost $20 or less per item, and clothing and footwear that cost $100 or less per item.Hurricane and emergency preparedness items include: portable generators, $1,0 or less; gas-powered chain saws, $350 or less; chain saw accessories, $60 or less; and other hurricane preparedness products, $60 or less.A detailed list of qualifying items can be found on the Virginia Tax website.
Several media outlets report that FreightCar America in Roanoke will close its manufacturing plant on Campbell Avenue by November – putting more than 200 out of work. An H-R executive with FreightCar America says the layoffs should be considered permanent.They should begin in September. Market conditions were cited as a reason for the closure.
(From company release) “The closure of our Roanoke facility is another next step in our ‘Back to Basics’ strategy as we continue to streamline our manufacturing footprint and match it to our future product offering,” said Jim Meyer, President and Chief Executive Officer of FreightCar America. “Reducing our fixed costs and achieving world-class output from our much larger Shoals facility have always been core pillars of our turnaround strategy.”
Meyer added, “We have spent the last two years building our talent, processes and overall capabilities at Shoals and the plant is now in a position to accept the Roanoke models and volume. This action, when complete in the first half of 2020, is expected to save approximately $5 million per year.”
Meyer concluded, “Our people at Roanoke have consistently performed above all expectations. We are extremely thankful for everything they have given the Company.”
Ian Price photo
After 32 years in downtown Roanoke on Campbell Avenue, Orvis Roanoke cut the ribbon on its newly renovated store today. Orvis has more than 80 stores in the US and UK; the one in Roanoke was the second. The outdoors-oriented retailer was founded in 1856 and was an early mail order company. David Pero says the makeover lets the store feel “a little more breathable.”
He was a standout slugger at Virginia Tech, then worked his way up to the major leagues – where he hit one of the longest home runs ever at the old Yankee Stadium. George Canale is drawing on his family’s Memphis roots, where they were in the smoked meat business. “Canale’s” is now having a soft opening in the old Grandin Gardens mansion on Grandin Road, with a grander opening promised soon. So what’s harder? – that or opening the barbecue restaurant George Canale is launching with his wife Laura?:
