Month: May 2013

By Becca Knicely

At the young age of 12, Laura Lamoureux knew she wanted to be a business owner. As her Radford main street clothing and apparel store hits the 25 year anniversary mark — her silver anniversary — Laura looks back.

She was a papergirl for The Roanoke Times and was able to have an income as an adolescent.  Her inspiration for hippie clothing and apparel came from a shop in downtown Blacksburg, called Fringe Benefit where she bought all of her clothes.

After graduating Blacksburg High School, she wanted to jump right into opening her business. However, her parents being teachers they wanted her to attend college.

“I wanted to go to California,” Lamoureux said. Her mother not keen on the idea, found an advertisement in a magazine for Bauder Fashion College in Dallas, Texas.

Read More “Lamour’s goes silver”

By Tucker Davis

Just outside the city limits of Radford, you will find a cluster of fast food eateries strung along the tiny portion of Route 11. But in the middle of an unpaved gravel lot, across from the now vacant homes of Kentucky Fried Chicken and Burger King, stands Hank’s Drive-In. Hank’s doesn’t have a double drive-threw window or a flashy LED sign—they don’t even accept credit cards.

Despite the lack of flare and modern-day innovations like the big chain fast food rivals that surround them, Hank’s Drive-In has stood the test of time by serving up what they call the best burger in town.

Read More “Cruisin’ for burgers on old Rt 11”

By Bill Kovarik    

Beth Obenshain watched as suburban developments swept away the farms around Blacksburg, Va.,  where she had grown up.  And, as a self-described “country kid,” it bothered her.

So in 2002 she retired as a senior editor for the Roanoke Times and took on the challenge of directing the New  River Land Trust.   Read More “A country kid’s passion for preservation”