Business News - August 12

👮 Trespass Bar, Sidewalk Sale, and Festival 🎉

Author

Joya Garris
August 12, 2025

Happy Tuesday!

Today’s Top Three:

  • RPD is making progress on the recently reinstated Trespass Bar Program .

  • The Sidewalk Sale is less than 2 weeks away— Remember to tell us your specials so we can help promote them.

  • Join our new gift card platform , Yiftee!

Keep reading to stay informed!  

- Joya Garris, Director of Marketing & Communications

Stay Informed

Trespass Bar Program đźš«

Sergeant Laub wants inform businesses about the reinstatement of the Trespass Bar Program. Starting this week, the police department will be walking around to businesses previously registered to check for signage and compliance. You must have “No Trespassing” signs at your entrances and exits. RPD hopes to complete this process in 2 weeks. Once added to the program, your registration is valid for 3 years.

If you have questions or want to register for the Trespass Bar program, please contact RPD at [email protected] or 540-853-5328.

Watch Our Annual Report 📽️ 

Over the last 12 months, we’ve been busy ensuring the Downtown Service District remains vibrant and economically strong. Check out the highlights from an amazing year downtown. ⬇️ 

Ambassador Update đź’™ 

The Downtown Roanoke Ambassadors are working hard to keep downtown clean, vibrant, and welcoming. Check out these action shots of the team removing litter, pressure washing, cleaning the market, blowing leaves out of Century Plaza, and clearing weeds.

Get Involved

Sidewalk Sale 🛍️ 

Still time to Register

Don’t forget to register for the Downtown Sidewalk Sale on August 23rd. If you’re already registered, please review our website make sure you’re listed.

Sales & Specials

Reminder: DRI still needs sale details from most locations! Email details to [email protected] . The interactive map at the bottom of the Sidewalk Sale webpage has sale information when you click on individual markers.

Passport

We are pleased to announce the introduction of an event passport designed to encourage shoppers to visit each participating location. The idea is similar to the Elf on the Shelf scavenger hunt that we organize each winter. Upon arrival downtown, shoppers should proceed to Market Square to collect their passport. Each visit to a participating store will earn a stamp in the passport. Once the passport has been fully stamped, participants must return the passport to Market Square by 5pm to be entered for the chance to win a gift basket.

Gift Card Meeting 💳️ 

DRI is excited to announce that we are switching to a new gift card program in September that offers a better experience for customers, our staff, and participating merchants. Click here to learn more.

All businesses within the Downtown Service District can participate! To join, scroll down to the bottom of the page and hit the blue “Apply” button.

Attend Festival of India 🇮🇳 

Festival of India returns to Elmwood Park this Saturday! Immerse yourself in an extravaganza of colors, music, dance, cuisine, and delightful festivities, right here in Roanoke. Don’t miss dozens of food vendors, henna, and a raffle. The best part? Admission is Free!

Gain Knowledge & Network

Registered Apprentice Open House 🏠️ 

Greater Roanoke Workforce Development Board (GRWDB) pleased to invite you to the Registered Apprenticeship Open House on Thursday, August 21 from 9am to 11am. This is an opportunity to stop by and connect with GRWDB staff to learn more about maximizing funding for existing Registered Apprenticeship programs and how to get involved.

For more information, please contact Toni McLawhorn at (540) 988-3937 or [email protected].

Upcoming Workshops by SBDC  

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 August 11 - 17.

  • Straight Street Youth Night on Friday, 8/15 and Saturday, 8/16 on Luck Ave SW between 3rd St and 4th St

  • Delta Dental Party in Elmwood on Thursday, 8/14 in Elmwood Park

  • Not Your Average Day Party on 8/16 at Century Plaza

  • Festival of India on 8/16 at Elmwood Park

  • Night of Worship on 8/17 at Market Square

    Closure: Market St SW, between Campbell Ave and Kirk Ave

Additional closures:

  • Drainage Project — Find updates and closures here .

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! đź’Ľ

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!