Well, sometimes rumors come true.
One going around for nearly three years was relative to a WalMart "Sam's Club" coming to the NRV. This may have taken a winding path because of Blacksburg's battle to keep a super-store out of town, presuming the Sam's would have moved into the present day WalMart.
It was just reported one of the last store's left in Market Square was relocating, and now it appears WalMart & Companies will be returning to that corner of the regional mall area. Those who have been in the NRV a while will remember the original Goody's (which moved to Spradlin Farms and then closed), as the site of the first WalMart, so this is almost a homecoming or full circle.
For fans of Sam's, this offers another time and gasoline savings by not driving 35 miles to Roanoke. For fans of controlling sprawl, this is better than adding yet another 40 acres of pavement while leaving nearby facilities vacant or under-utilized. With Blacksburg Transit offering expanded service via a Mall Circulator route, the timing is good for both shoppers and potential employees.
Since one-fifth of collected state sales tax comes back to the county (which then shares about 50% of those funds in a three-way split with Blacksburg and Christiansburg), this could be a small positive for all Montgomery citizens.
Eat your heart out, Costco.