Shopping

Food

Grocery stores sell a wide variety of foods and other products. The major grocery stores include Food Lion, Kroger, and Wal-Mart. Also see "Grocers" in the phonebook yellow pages for more grocery store options.

Most of the grocery stores are located on the Blacksburg Transit (BT) bus route. When classes are in session, the BT offers full and convenient public transportation, which is free for Virginia Tech students who show their Hokie Passport. Limited bus service is also available during university breaks. Please check the bus schedule before traveling.

International Food

• Oasis World Market, located at 1411 South Main St., Blacksburg, VA (540-953-3950)
• Global Foods, located at 890 Kabrich St., Blacksburg, VA (540-552-2221)

Department Stores

Department stores (like Sears, JC Penney, Belk) offer a wide variety of products, including clothing, appliances, and household items. Discount department stores (like Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target) generally offer lower prices. The closest department stores are located in Christiansburg, Va.

Blacksburg Transit (BT) offers limited bus service between campus and Christiansburg, Va. When classes are in session, the BT offers full and convenient public transportation, which is free for Virginia Tech students who show their Hokie Passport. Limited bus service is also available during university breaks. Please check the bus schedule before traveling.

Used Items

Thrift shops sell used clothing, furniture, and household items at much lower prices. Thrift shops include YMCA Thrift Shop (1000 North Main Street, Blacksburg), Humane Society Second Time Around Store (107 Ellett Road, Blacksburg), and Goodwill (1411 Main Street, Blacksburg).

American families often sell unneeded items at "yard sales" on the weekends. Yard sales are more common during the spring and summer because the weather is warmer. See the classified ads of the local newspaper or Craiglist.com for a list of local yard sales.

Is it Acceptable to Bargain?

Most prices in the U.S. are fixed and cannot be changed through bargaining. Generally, bargaining only takes places when buying a car, house, or used items from an individual, like at a yard sale.

Sales Tax

Sales tax is an additional charge added to the price of an item, generally 5% in Virginia, though it may be more for certain items.