Collegiate Times

Bed Bath and Beyond, one of several stores opening this month at the New River Valley Mall, may compete with local establishments already in the Blacksburg area.

Blacksburg is known for its distinct small-town businesses, but with the recent arrival of large, popular chain stores in the new power strip in Christiansburg, the question remains as to how well the smaller downtown shops will fare.

The strip consists of a Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Old Navy, PetSmart and many other stores. For local, independent businesses like Gourmet Pantry and Crossroads, Bed Bath & Beyond and Best Buy could prove to be sources of competition.

Best Buy has much to offer in the area of electronics, including computers, phones, games, and home appliances as well as music, videos and more.

Also offering a large range of items is Bed Bath & Beyond, which recently opened on Oct. 9.

"Whatever you need, we can get it for you here," said Allen George, manager of Bed Bath & Beyond in Christiansburg. "From bath, bedding, cookware, to electronics, and the beyond section has pretty much everything."

George said the store offers a homely and friendly environment with good customer service.

"I think once people come in, they'll see it's more than just a bed and bath store. The beyond is what gets everybody excited," he said.

Gourmet Pantry owner Roya Nazare said that having an established business in Blacksburg is what sets her store apart.

"(Bed Bath & Beyond) has some of the appliances we carry, but we carry some that they don't have," Nazare said. "We only bring in good quality products. We also have many more different categories in our store than they do."

The store specializes in wine, food, coffees and teas, and also offers a selection of appliances.

Nazare said stores that sell appliances must abide by the Minimum Advertised Pricing (MAP). With MAP pricing, large stores, like Bed Bath & Beyond, cannot sell items for cheaper prices.

"We have the same prices," she said.

Nazare also explained that Gourmet Pantry is a specialty store with different services available, like cooking classes.

Regarding what may be competition in the form of a large chain store among a strip of big businesses, Nazare said she did not think her business would be too affected.

"We might be affected at the beginning; that happens at the beginning of every business because everyone wants to see the new store," she said. "But the town and people are very supportive of the merchants of Blacksburg."

As for Crossroads, co-owner Lori Fisher admitted that the business is a hard one to be involved with. Fisher and her husband own the local, independently owned CD and video store. What sets Crossroads apart from other similar stores, however, is its specialized, college-oriented pieces.

Fisher said Crossroads has two passionate, specialty buyers who cater toward the serious music lover.

"We strive to be the best provider of the music and movies that other people can't find or don't want to take the time trying to locate in a big mass merchant type store," Fisher said.

She said Crossroads caters to the masses, but also specializes in things not found at Best Buy or Wal-Mart.

"We've had a lot of competition in the past, and because we have strived to do what we do and maintain that very friendly customer oriented staff and vibe in our store, I don't think it'll really affect our business," Fisher said.

Crossroads has been in business in Blacksburg for approximately 15 years.

"Competition always makes you stronger," Fisher said. "You just have to improve in different ways."