kohls (Roanoke, Lynchburg, Salem: houses, income, tax)

[Teebyrd86]

Originally Posted by VALover

I love Kohl's! I go to the one in Lynchburg. It is the only clothing store I can stand to shop in. I usually go to the one in Lynchburg about every three months or so and stock up on all the stuff I love. In a way I hope they don't bring one to Roanoke because that would take part of the fun out of going.

If anyone in Roanoke wants to shop at the one in Lynchburg it is super easy to get to and there is lots of other shopping right around it.

I smell a city-data Roanoke forum road trip comming together!

[Diamond Dave]

Originally Posted by sregorat3

These areas might be smaller, but the Lynchburg MSA is only slightly smaller and the other MSA's have more than enough population to support such retail. Economically, they are really all pretty similar. You write as if you live in Cville, which is widely known as a particularly affluent area. My guess is that if there were to be a new strip center with available land, Kohl's would be a probable tenant. Until then, you can always come to Lynchburg!

Why do the Lynchburg folks always get so defensive?

As of July 1, 2007, the Roanoke MSA had 22% more population than the Lynchburg MSA. Therefore, the Lynchburg MSA is smaller. (Lynchburg is also a smaller city, with about 72,000 residents. Roanoke is about 1/3 larger.)

Also, the Roanoke MSA's median household income, median family income, and per capita income are 12-13% higher than the Lynchburg MSA's across the board.

Thus, there must be some other reason why Kohl's won't come to Roanoke.

[Teebyrd86]

Originally Posted by Diamond Dave

Thus, there must be some other reason why Kohl's won't come to Roanoke.

I wonder if it has something to do with Roanoke being too out of the way transportation wise like from their warehouse or something? There really arnt any other Kohls stores out this way.

[Diamond Dave]

Originally Posted by Teebyrd86

I wonder if it has something to do with Roanoke being too out of the way transportation wise like from their warehouse or something? There really arnt any other Kohls stores out this way.

That could be it...2 hours south to Greensboro...nothing on 81 south of any size till you hit Kingsport.

Good observation.

[sregorat3]

Originally Posted by Diamond Dave

Why do the Lynchburg folks always get so defensive?

As of July 1, 2007, the Roanoke MSA had 22% more population than the Lynchburg MSA. Therefore, the Lynchburg MSA is smaller. (Lynchburg is also a smaller city, with about 72,000 residents. Roanoke is about 1/3 larger.)

Also, the Roanoke MSA's median household income, median family income, and per capita income are 12-13% higher than the Lynchburg MSA's across the board.

Thus, there must be some other reason why Kohl's won't come to Roanoke.

Maybe it is the posting of statements that are somewhat misleading, and are based on data from 2000. Judging by the most recent estimates and job growth patterns, I'd say that the 2 regions are much closer economically than they were in 2000. If you've done much traveling around the Mid-Atlantic, you would have a hard time arguing that Roanoke is particularly more affluent than any major cities in Virgina, other than Danville.

Anyway, maybe Kohl's noticed that Harrisonburg and Lynchburg are outperforming Roanoke in population growth.

[Diamond Dave]

Originally Posted by sregorat3

Maybe it is the posting of statements that are somewhat misleading, and are based on data from 2000. Judging by the most recent estimates and job growth patterns, I'd say that the 2 regions are much closer economically than they were in 2000. If you've done much traveling around the Mid-Atlantic, you would have a hard time arguing that Roanoke is particularly more affluent than any major cities in Virgina, other than Danville.

Anyway, maybe Kohl's noticed that Harrisonburg and Lynchburg are outperforming Roanoke in population growth.

My data are from 2007. Danville? Perhaps it is you who needs to travel...

I think somebody has Roanoke envy.

[sregorat3]

Come on Dave! I've traveled VA weekly for 22 years and I currently work and have employees working in Roanoke 2-3 days a week. I know Roanoke better than most Roanokers. I greatly encouraged my sister and her husband to move to Roanoke and helped them learn their way around the city better than their life-long Roanoke realtor. By the way, you better check your facts. Only estimates are available from 2007 and what you are quoting (if you got it off Wiki) is year 2000 economic data and year 2007 estimated population data. I mentioned Danville, as it is the only MSA that is obviously less affluent than Roanoke; while stats aren't identical, most of the other MSA's in VA's cities (outside of the Golden Triangle) are all really pretty similar.
It doesn't really matter because as long as you make this foolish "affluence" argument, those in the know will just have to roll their eyes. I'd almost guess you were from Charlottesville. They tout the affluence thing all the while scooping up more gov't assistance per person than most other cities in VA.

All that being said, I would live in Roanoke in a heartbeat- if I didn't enjoy Lynchburg so much... and we have a Kohl's. Maybe it is just that Lynchburg is so affluent. After all I don't think it is much further at all to get from the Winchester distribution center to Lynchburg as it is to Roanoke. What else coud it be?
Don't feel bad- Old Navy built a store in Wytheville prior to opening in Roanoke- and I surely don't think that Wytheville is more affluent or hip than Roanoke.

[badger74]

They are afraid of that higher crime rate in Roanoke. ;-)

I recently posted some very current Moody's demographic data on both towns in another thread. It's here somewhere.

[Teebyrd86]

Lynchburg more affluent that Roanoke!??? Are you kidding me??? That is a crazy statement. At least Roanoke has one skyscraper

[seanpecor]

Roanoke is more affluent than Lynchburg although some might not know it driving through town. For decades, Roanoke has had a notable statistical edge in median household incomes and that is not trending to change at all. Both are fine little cities, however. I'd say the friendly rivalry extends to city-data, which isn't surprising

Maybe I've mentioned this before but I don't think the affluent population has much to do with Kohls. I'm guessing Kohls caters to middle class folks who make a value judgement and desire to spend a little more to differentiate themselves from the rest of the middle and lower classes. And maybe this is at the heart of what is different between Lynchburg and Roanoke.

Roanoke has slightly higher crime rate than Lynchburg. We all know what this means: Roanoke has a slightly higher percentage of lower income citizens than Lynchburg. It's the same demographic mix that skews city school SOL scores over county school SOL scores and fuels the "good school" debate. So, why then does Roanoke have a _higher_ median household income? Because Roanoke has a much higher population of upper income affluent citizens than Lynchburg does. Roanoke's affluent population is high enough to push the median income statistic notably higher than Lynchburg but Roanoke's greater lower income population is high enough to push the crime statistics slightly higher than Lynchburg.

And if this is true, then it would explain why there is no Kohls in Roanoke. Because affluent people do not generally tend to shop at Kohls, or Macys, or whatever. Affluent people are already well served by an array of truly upscale merchants in Roanoke. La De Das, The Cobbler's Wife, Davidsons, Pink, Talbots, 310 Rosemont, Vivendi, Bliss, Plantagenet Rose, Henri Kessler, Joseph Banks, Yarids, Dandelion Feet, etc. I mean, why pay $50 for a pair of jeans when you can pay $250?

Sean