I haven't been keeping track of LBS bike prices but they do apear to have gone up yet again. Last time I looked $1k+ a bit would get you a Recon level shock instead of the entry level XC line. If I were spending that kind of money and you could live with going online I go with Airborne Bicycles. Goblin
The only thing I don't like about that bike is the Avid brakes but I'd live with them to get that Reba fork which is two steps above an XC. At your size you might also be able to get lucky and find a left over last year's bike at a huge discount on sites like Jenson, REI, and the like. The less common sizes are the ones they usually have like XL and XS.