Let’s face it: We are in a new era of what shopping and retail look like. With the click of a button, you can order almost anything on your phone. As college students, it makes life easier and more convenient. Blacksburg is a small town and once you leave, you hit highways. Many students don’t have cars, don’t know where to shop in the NRV, or simply follow habits, and thus, shop online. Major retailers have amped up their online services and Amazon has gotten even more competitive with their offerings. So what does this mean for traditional malls, especially our local mall in Christiansburg?
Well, I have some exciting news. The New River Valley Mall is welcoming several new retailers, just in time for spring! Ulta Beauty, Kirkland’s, and HomeGoods are moving into the mall and are looking forward to getting to know the NRV. Many retailers have previously shut their doors in this mall, unfortunately, including JCPenney and PacSun.
The major call for these new retailers is that their in-store experiences are unique and that they aren’t available anywhere else in the NRV, aside from Roanoke. Trying on makeup at Ulta is key to finding the perfect lipstick shade, and seeing the furniture and art pieces at Kirkland’s and HomeGoods can help you pick the perfect pieces. Having more local options will definitely serve the Blacksburg community and students alike. The retail climate in the area is greatly improved when students don’t have to drive all the way to Roanoke to visit stores like Ulta Beauty.
The New River Valley Mall proudly shared on their Facebook page about the grand opening of HomeGoods on March 10th:
“HomeGoods Grand Opening is TODAY! Store opens at 8am! Enjoy the day and #GoFinding in a store filled with new arrivals at ever-amazing prices.”
The listing for HomeGoods has been offically added to the mall’s website. Listings for Kirkland’s and Ulta Beauty are marked as coming soon. Users online asked about the opening of Ulta Beauty, and according to the New River Valley Mall’s Facebook page, there is no date officially set for the opening. Ulta has posted job listings on their website to start staffing their newest location. Be sure to follow the mall’s Facebook page to get the most recent updates regarding these new retail offerings and when they will have their grand openings.
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