Business News - March 31

Keeping you informed.

Author

Brittany Smith
March 31, 2026

Hello Downtown Roanoke Businesses,

Thanks for opening this email! Our goal at Downtown Roanoke Inc. is to make sure that you are up-to-date with everything that is happening in the downtown district. If you have something to add in a future issue, let me know at [email protected].

Some things that I am either currently enjoying or looking forward to:

-Brittany Smith, Director of Marketing and Communication

GET INVOLVED

Wednesday, April 8th

Our Retail & Restaurants Meetings are back! Join us virtually on Wednesday, April 8th at 8:30 am or 3:30 pm to stay in-the-know.

Guest Speaker: Premium Parking

GIVE Roanoke is coming up on Tuesday, April 22nd. It’s a fun, easy, and flexible way to donate and learn more about organizations making a difference in the Roanoke Valley.

This year, Downtown Roanoke, Inc. is raising money for two different efforts.

Downtown Beautification: Our beautification efforts include 276 hanging baskets, 128 planters, 9 Market Square planters, Market Square tree lighting, and more.

Downtown Ambassador Program: We truly believe having a clean, safe, and welcoming downtown is the foundation of a great city. Our 8-person Ambassador team is downtown 7 days a week providing nearly 300 hours of weekly services. Our Ambassador Program builds on existing services and allows us to improve the downtown experience for residents, employees, and visitors.

With your support, we hope to continue, and hopefully, grow these programs.

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!

Want to be added to our Business Directory? Fill out the form.

Looking for new staff? Submit a job listing here.

Event Listings: Submit an event here. (Over 6.2k views in March!)

YIFTEE Gift Card Program: Learn more here.

Questions? Please reach out to Brittany at [email protected]

EVENTS

Easter Egg Hunt

The Downtown Roanoke Ambassador team will be hosting a small Easter egg hunt on Friday, April 3rd starting at 9:00 am. There will be only 8 large eggs hidden throughout the downtown district, filled with sweet treats and gift cards to Downtown Roanoke businesses!

Party in Elmwood

The 2026 Party in Elmwood season kicks off on May 28th! We are excited to debut our “Remix” nights, bringing a variety of music to the stage to draw a more diverse crowd. Our goal is to bring more folks downtown to visit your restaurants and retail shops!

CONSTRUCTION AND STREET CLOSURES

Blue Ridge Marathon

The Blue Ridge Marathon is heading our way April 18th- get ready for a busy weekend! Share the street closure information below with your team.

Stormwater Improvements:

1st Street SW & Kirk Ave SW

Phase 1: 1st Street SW (March-May 2026)

The City will upsize five storm drainage inlets along 1st Street SW at:

  • Luck Ave SW

  • Church Ave SW

  • Kirk Ave SW

These upgrades will help reduce flooding downtown. Crews are coordinating with nearby businesses to limit disruptions.

Impacts: Periodic roadway, sidewalk, and parking detours or temporary closures.

Phase 2: Kirk Ave SW (May-August 2026)

This phase includes upsizing two existing inlets and adding one new inlet to further reduce flood risk in the area.

Impacts: Expect intermittent detours and temporary closures for roads, sidewalks, and parking.

Questions? Please contact Elizabeth Paden at [email protected]

Important Information

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!

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.