Business News - April 22

Elevator Upgrade 🛠️

Author

Joya Garris
April 22, 2025

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and that you do something special for the environment on this beautiful Earth Day.

Today’s Top Three:

  • A Retail & Restaurant Meeting Summary is available for those unable to attend last week’s meeting.

  • GIVE Roanoke is tomorrow. Support local nonprofits right here in the Roanoke Valley!

  • An upgrade is scheduled for the Center in the Square garage elevator. Details below.

Bonus: Check out the list of upcoming events and festival under the street closures section.

Keep reading to stay informed!  

- Joya Garris, Director of Marketing & Communications

Get Involved

Meeting Summary 📝 

If you were unable to attend our Retail & Restaurant Meetings last week, you’re in luck! We have a PowerPoint for you to review.

Important notes:

  • The Ambassadors’ pressure washer broke and is in the shop; however, they expect repairs to be completed this week. They will resume pressure washing soon.

  • Stormwater seeks to reduce flooding around Salem Ave and 1st St, so they are working on a large improvement project April 2025 - September 2025. This will result in street closures.

  • A marketing summary of our St. Patrick’s Day promotional efforts is included.

TONIGHT: Resident Happy Hour 🍹 

Residents, get ready for an exciting night of trivia, drinks, and community! Meet other downtown residents while having fun at Martin’s Downtown. DRI is offering residents two free drink tickets when they complete a survey.

Property managers, please forward our email to your residents living within the Downtown Service District. Didn’t get an invite? Email [email protected] for the exclusive invitation.

Stay Informed

Sewer Maintenance 🕳️

Starting today, the sidewalk in between chocolatepaper and 310 Rosemont will be intermittently closed for sewer work. All businesses will still be accessible while work is completed. Additionally, the street should not be impacted. The projected timeline is approximately 3 days.

Elevator Upgrade 🛠️ 

PARK Roanoke is updating the Center in the Square garage elevator with new equipment and and an upgraded cab. Work is underway and the elevator is out of operation during the completion of the project. Work is expected to take 10-12 weeks. Additional handicap spaces are available on the ground level.

GIVE Roanoke is April 23rd! 🫶

This year, Downtown Roanoke, Inc. is raising money for Downtown Beautification and the Ambassador Program. Our goal is to make Downtown Roanoke clean, welcoming, and vibrant for all. With your support, we hope to continue, and hopefully, grow these programs.

You can invest in your community through April 23, 2025, at 11:59pm.

Business Feature: Jack Brown’s 🍺 🍔 

Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint has a goal: serve best burgers in Roanoke. How do they accomplish that? Through their rich, buttery American Wagyu beef, which helped secure awards across the country and in Virginia. In addition to delicious burgers, the prime location on Market Street, cold drinks, and good vibes create the perfect spot to unwind. It’s no wonder Jack Brown’s quickly became a staple after opening in 2013.

WATCH: Jack Brown’s Celebrates 12 years

Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint is celebrating 12 years of serving delicious food in Roanoke.

www.wsls.com/news/local/2025/04/15/watch-jack-browns-celebrates-12-years

Ambassador Update 💙🐣 

Easter cheer was in full swing this weekend as our hospitality team handed out toy-filled eggs.

Gain Knowledge & Network

Virtual Retailer Workshop 🛍️ 

Shopping for Customer Insights | April 29th

Join Retail Brew to explore how brands and retailers can leverage analytics to drive personalization and power more engaging and effective shopping experiences that drive conversions.

Topics: The role of AI, First Party Data, & Real-Time Measurement

Events, Street Closures, & Parking

Downtown Events and Street Closures 🚧

The following street closures and associated events may affect Downtown traffic and business for the week of April 21-27.

  • Straight Street Youth Night on Friday, 4/25 and Saturday, 4/26 on Luck Ave SW between 3rd St and 4th St

  • Pride Festival on Sunday, 4/27 at Elmwood Park

  • Workers Memorial Day on Sunday, 4/27 at Martin Luther King Statue

Upcoming Events 🌆 

Find Downtown Parking 🅿️

With more than 1,300 on-street spaces and 7,000+ off-street spaces, plenty of free or paid parking options exist.

DRI - Your Downtown Partner

Put DRI to work for you! 💼

Our mission is to make Downtown Roanoke the preferred place to Work, Live, and Play. As a Downtown business, you have a valuable FREE resource at your fingertips. Let us help share your story!

Website Listings on DowntownRoanoke.org - Our business listings often come up among the first in Google searches. Help us enhance your listing by providing us with vital information including website, phone number, description, hours, menus, and images.

Job Listings on DowntownRoanoke.org - Downtown Roanoke is the most vibrant workplace around and a destination for job seekers. Let us help get the word out when you’re hiring!

Event Listings on DowntownRoanoke.org - Our Event Calendar is THE place people go to find out what’s happening Downtown. Get your event in front of the audience you’re looking for.

Important Contacts 👤

Often businesses need phone numbers for government services, such as solid waste, permitting, etc., and other services, such as private parking and transportation.

Check out our list of frequently requested information!