Business News - May 12th

Keeping you informed.

Author

Brittany Smith
May 12, 2026

Hello all,

What a weekend downtown just had! The warm weather brought a wave of families to the Historic Roanoke City Market, and it was wonderful to see so many people exploring, shopping, and dining throughout our vibrant district. We hope that same momentum has been flowing right into your storefronts.

A big congratulations to the wonderful folks at Elderberry’s, who held their ribbon cutting this morning. We love having you in the neighborhood!

-Tina, Eric, Tyler, and Brittany at DRI

PUT DRI TO WORK FOR YOU!

  • New Business Hours: Our Downtown Roanoke Ambassadors will be available Mondays-Saturdays from 6:00 am-7:00 pm, and on Sundays from 6:00 am-2:30 pm.

  • Upcoming Projects: The team will begin power washing & planting flowers in the upcoming weeks!

  • Contact Information: If you need assistance, please call 540-553-6638. There will be times where our Ambassadors are unable to answer the phone immediately, but feel free to leave a message. They will get back to you as soon as they can.

GET INVOLVED

FREE Pinnacle Financial Services Business Mastermind Retreat

Join a network of other business owners on Tuesday, June 9 and Wednesday, June 10, 2026 as you explore key topics from “The E-Myth Revisited”. You’ll learn about implementing systems, structure, policies and procedures to help you work ON your business, rather than IN your business.

 

OnBoardIROA is an eight-week summer program that embeds young professionals, interns, and new hires into our thriving community. If you are (or have) a 18-26 years old, this is a great way to stay connected!

The awesome folks at Get2KnowNoke & the Roanoke Regional Partnership are responsible for this wonderful opportunity!

CONSTRUCTION AND STREET CLOSURES

Special Event Street Closures

  • First Fridays on Friday, May 15, 2026 on Franklin Rd SW, between Williamson + Jefferson*

  • Straight Street May Three on Friday, May 15, 2026 and Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Luck Ave, between 3rd + 4th*

  • Local Colors on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Elmwood Park and on Franklin Rd, between Jefferson and Williamson*

  • Gainsboro Neighborhood Block Party on Patton Avenue NW, between Gainsboro and Jefferson*

  • Tiny Tots Tri on Sunday, May 17, 2026 at Elmwood Park

  • Kids to Parks on Sunday, May 17, 2026 at Elmwood Park

Stormwater Improvements

The 1st Street project is now complete, and the contractor will begin the next phase of work Monday, May 18, focusing on the Kirk Avenue alley between Market Street and Jefferson Street.

What Businesses Need to Know

  • Alley Work Starts: Monday, May 18

  • Location: Kirk Ave alley (between Market & Jefferson)

  • Access: The contractor will work to minimize the number of days the alley is fully closed.

Deliveries & Access Planning

  • Deliveries that must access the alley: 
    Coordinate directly with the contractor by speaking with staff on site.

  • Deliveries that can be redirected: 
    A temporary delivery zone will be available on Kirk Ave, along the side of Ladles & Linens.

How to Stay Connected

If your business relies on alley access or has delivery timing constraints, please communicate with your delivery partners and ensure they know about the temporary setup.

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.