Business News - March 11

St. Paddy's Weekend ☘️

Author

Joya Garris
March 11, 2025

One of the biggest weekends downtown is almost here! With tons of fun events, make sure to scroll to the bottom of the newsletter to review street closures!

Today’s Top Three:

  • Saturday is the day! Join us for the Freedom First St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Shamrock Festival.

  • Vote for a winner of our Window Decorating Contest!

  • Bites & Bevs is a new downtown initiative, and we’re looking for participants. Register today.

Keep reading to stay informed!  

- Joya Garris, Community Engagement and Communications Manager

Stay Informed

Join us this Saturday for one of Roanoke’s largest St. Paddy’s Day celebrations! The parade kicks off at 11am. The route begins on Jefferson Street at Elm Avenue, continues to Campbell Avenue, and ends at Williamson Road. The festival runs 10am - 5pm in John Nolen Plaza. Don’t miss free admission, live music, beer, and lots of fun!

View our street closures. Please pass along to your employees and residents.

We’re incredibly lucky to have such a hard-working team of Downtown Ambassadors! Look at what they accomplished in February.

  • Hospitality assists, directions, escorts: 371

  • Business contacts: 50

  • Outreach contacts: 139

  • Outreach referrals: 27

  • Sweep/small clean up: 282

  • Weed abatement: 2 block faces

  • Bags of litter collected: 100

  • Scooter relations: 98

  • Biohazard clean up: 70

  • Handbills, stickers, graffiti removed: 33

  • Small bulk trash removed: 13

Follow the official Downtown Ambassadors Facebook Page to stay updated on everything the team does!

Get Involved

Vote for a Winner ☘️ 

Check out the submissions for this year’s window decorating contest. Choose your favorite design and comment the name of the business. The business with the most votes wins! 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners receive cash prizes.

Register for Bites and Bevs: June 16-22 🥨🍹

Showcase your best appetizers, small plates, cocktails, wines, craft beers, and spirits to attract customers exploring Downtown Roanoke’s culinary scene.

Who: Bars, breweries, and restaurants serving alcohol.

Let’s boost your foot traffic and sales—join us!

Join Regional Restaurant Week

May 31 - June 8, 2025

Restaurants across the region are invited to participate in VBR Restaurant Week. Downtown businesses interested in participating should contact Brady Lawrence at 540-853-5661 or [email protected].

Those interested should complete the interest form.

Participate in a Flooding Study 📝 

Virginia Tech is seeking participants for a research study on how the community perceives flood risk in Downtown Roanoke. Participants will view a realistic 3D flooding simulation of the area and share thoughts on local flooding.

Gain Knowledge & Network

Networking & Career Development Opportunities

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 March 10-16.

  • Straight Street Youth Night on Friday, 3/14 & Saturday, 3/15

    • Closure: Luck Ave SW between 3rd St and 4th St

  • 202 Social House St. Patrick’s Event on Saturday, 3/15 at Market Square Plaza

  • Fork in the Market St. Patrick’s Event on Saturday, 3/15

    • Closure: Market St between Salem Ave and Campbell Ave

  • Martin’s Downtown St. Patrick’s Day Street Party on Saturday, 3/15

    • Closure: 1st St between Luck Ave and Church Ave

  • Sidewinder’s St. Patrick’s Event on Saturday, 3/15

    • Closure: Campbell Ave between 1st St and Jefferson St

  • Oh Lucky Day on Saturday, 3/15 at Century Plaza

Check out our Event Calendar for a full list of 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!