Business News - May 6

Making a Splash 💦 🛝

Author

Joya Garris
May 06, 2025

Happy May!

Today’s Top Three:

  • DRI is bringing a giant waterslide to Downtown Roanoke!

  • This week is your last chance to register for Bites & Bevs before we announce event publicly.

  • Check out the Ambassador statistics from last month. Our team killed it!

Keep reading to stay informed!  

- Joya Garris, Director of Marketing & Communications

Get Involved

Make a Splash with Us! 🌊 

We’re excited to announce our latest fundraiser for the Downtown Roanoke Ambassador Program! WDBJ7’s Star City Slide is the ultimate urban 800 foot long waterslide in Downtown Roanoke. All proceeds benefit our program.

We expect this event to sell out, so buy your tickets ASAP! Click the link below for height and age restrictions, event details, and ticketing information.

Last Call for Bites & Bevs Registration! 🍺 

Join our list of 15 businesses participating in our new initiative! Bites & Bevs on June 16-22, 2025. Customers will get the chance to experience the best appetizers, small plates, cocktails, wines, craft beers, and spirits from local restaurants, bars, and breweries.

Please view this flyer for details. Restaurants/bars can choose from one or more price points. Breweries that do not serve food are the only ones allowed to offer drink specials alone. Questions? Feel free to hit reply and ask.

We plan to announce in approximately two weeks! Participants, don’t forget to email us your menus.

Stay Informed

Daisy Art Parade 🎨 

The giant puppets and colorful costumes return to Downtown Roanoke on Saturday, May 10th at noon! This year’s parade is in a new location. It begins at Kirk Avenue and 1st Street and moves toward Henrietta Lacks Plaza, where the celebration continues with community art-making, live performances, and neighborly fun. The Daisy Art Parade is teaming up with the Street Performer Expo to attract visitors.

Upcoming Anniversaries & Celebrations 🎉 

Congratulations to the following downtown businesses and programs on their upcoming anniversaries!

Ambassador Update 🧹

April brought pressure washing, mulching, weeding, and an increase in hospitality as the weather warmed and folks ventured downtown. Check out the team’s April statistics below!

Gain Knowledge & Network

SBD Workshops 📝 

  • Family Child Care Series - Business Ownership: May 6 | 7:00pm

  • Financing Your Small Business: Thursday, May 8 | 10:00am

  • Marketing 101: Wednesday, May 14 | 10:00am

  • Cyber Insurance for Microbusiness: Thursday, May 15| 12:30pm

Hiring? Submit a listing to our Jobs Board! 💼 

Are you looking for a new cook, administrative professional, or accountant? Our jobs board is the perfect place to list your available position(s). Don’t forget to add the important details (responsibilities, benefits, and how to apply). Let’s attract qualified candidates!

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 May 5 - 11.

  • Straight Street Youth Night on Friday, 5/2 and Saturday, 5/3 on Luck Ave SW between 3rd St and 4th St

  • Street Performer Expo on Friday, 5/9 - Sunday, 5/11 on Kirk Ave and 1st St SW

  • Daisy Art Parade on Saturday, 5/10 on Kirk Ave and 1st St SW

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!