Business News - August 26

🅿️ Parking Study, Training Session, & Survey 📝

Author

Joya Garris
August 26, 2025

Happy Tuesday!

Today’s Top Three:

  • Join us for a training meeting for our new gift card platform, Yiftee!

  • Save the date: You’re invited to an exclusive parking study meeting on September 18th.

  • We want your feedback on the Sidewalk Sale to make it better next year.

Keep reading to stay informed!  

- Joya Garris, Director of Marketing & Communications

Stay Informed

Labor Day Parade 🇺🇲 

Stars and Stripes

The Labor Day Parade returns to downtown on Saturday, August 30th at 12pm! Head to Campbell Avenue between 3rd Street and Williamson Road to celebrate all workers. (Rain Date: 8/31/2025)

Ambassador Update 💙 

In between cleaning up litter, connecting those in need to services, and offering directions, the Downtown Roanoke Ambassadors were honored by Mayor Cobb at the State of the City last week! We are grateful that the City of Roanoke recognizes and supports the program and the dedicated individuals behind it.

Get Involved

Parking Study Meeting: Businesses! 🅿️ 

Thursday, September 18th | 9am | Hampton Inn Conference Room

The City of Roanoke is conducting a comprehensive year-long parking study to assess and improve parking downtown. Part of the research includes an exclusive meeting for businesses to voice their valuable opinions on Thursday, September 18th at 9am. We encourage you to attend to if you want to create change. Please note that the primary focus of this meeting is public parking (PARK Roanoke).

Areas to consider when formulating your opinions:

  • Cost

  • Availability

  • Technology

  • Free parking days/times

  • Enforcement

  • Special event parking

  • Marketing & communication

  • Street parking

  • Staffing

  • Security

  • Customer service

  • Tickets and fines

Gift Card Meeting on WEDNESDAY 💳️

Wednesday, August 27th | 4pm | Charter Hall, City Market Building

DRI is excited to announce that we are switching to a new gift card program in starting on September 1, 2025 that offers a better experience for customers, our staff, and participating merchants. Click here to learn more. We will be holding a Yiftee training session tomorrow to show you how to process gift cards and answer questions about the transition.

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.

We Want Feedback! 📝 

We hope everyone had a blast at this year’s Sidewalk Sale! Please take a moment to complete our 5 question survey to provide insights into the event. We want to make it even better next year.

Gain Knowledge & Network

Blind Boxes 🎁 

Who doesn’t love opening a gift? Marketers are tapping into blind boxes at major brands like Pop Mart and MGA Entertainment. Pop Mart’s Labubu dolls are having a moment. People are loving the excitement of opening a surprise, and they’re sharing their experiences on social media.

Not only do blind boxes create buzz online and increase brand awareness, but they also encourage repeat purchases. Small and local businesses can create their own versions of this, too! For example, 310 Rosemont could create a mystery jewelry box for customers. They could also send one of these to a local influencer to open on camera! What do you think? Is it worth trying?

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 25 - 31.

Additional closures:

  • Drainage Project — Find updates and closures here.

Upcoming Festivals, Concerts, & Events 🎉 

We’ve officially entered festival season! Whether you want to get involved or need to staff your business, mark your calendars for the following festivals and 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!