First major retailer in downtown Roanoke in decades coming soon > The apartments for lease should be ready for leasing by early spring but the Mast General Store that will open inside the old Heironimus department store at Church and Jefferson on the ground floor and mezzanine is looking like sometime this summer. This will be the 10th location for the North Carolina-based chain, which carries everything from food items to home goods and clothing, to rocking chairs, shoes and outdoor equipment. Spokesperson Sheri Moretz, who describes herself as “storyteller,” also says they have a following that draws fans to cities they’ve never been to before to check out that Mast General Store. “We can’t forget the old-fashioned candies and toys you haven’t seen in a long time.” In late January representatives from the Mast home office were in Roanoke when they accepted applications for employment. “We’re much more than a store,” adds Moretz, “we like to look at ourselves as a destination for our communities.” That includes directing visitors to their stores to local places to eat and other attractions. “We believe in giving back and getting involved in what’s going on [in the community].” Moretz says unique stores in older structures - like the former Heironimus department store – is a Mast General Store trademark.
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t MARCH 2020 / vbFRONT.com
