Business News - November 12

In recognition of Veterans Day yesterday, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all veterans in our downtown community. Thank you for your service

Today’s Top Three:

• The Holiday Gift Guide item drop-off deadline has been extended!

• Don’t forget to register for Small Business Saturday! #ShopSmall

• The Roanoke Police Department is hosting a Residential Meeting over dinner to discuss safety.

Keep reading to stay informed!  

- Joya Garris, Community Engagement and Communications Manager

Stay Informed

Dining Award Winners Announced 🏆

Congratulations to all of the winners of The Roanoker Magazine’s 2025 Dining Awards! Over 30 downtown businesses won awards across multiple categories, including best brunch, tacos, and seafood.

Business Feature: One City Plaza Event Space

Open House: Thursday, November 14th, 6-8pm

You’re invited to the grand re-opening of One City Plaza Event Space! Located on the 2nd floor of the old 2 Chill space, One City Plaza is the perfect spot for your next event— a wedding, corporate event, or birthday party. The venue can hold 140 seated guests, provides tables and chairs, and has convenient nearby parking.

The Disrupt Up AI Conference is Here 🧑‍💻 

The Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC) launched a new, innovative conference to share global knowledge and resources with the ecosystem surrounding emerging technologies. This week’s conference will focus on AI and deliver a variety of keynotes, panels, and breakout sessions through three tracks: life sciences, technology, and startups.

As a business, how should you engage with attendees?

• Post about the conference on social media

• Create welcoming sandwich boards

• Offer discounts for attendees

• Highlight items attendees might like (think about what folks in computer science or technology could potentially buy)

Ambassadors in Action 📸 

Get Involved

RPD Residential Meeting 👮 

Wednesday, November 20th at 6pm in Charter Hall, City Market Building

Property Managers, save the date! The Roanoke Police Department is hosting a Residential Meeting to discuss safety concerns. Don’t forget to mention that there will be FREE FOOD for residents! 🌮 

Questions? Please reach out to RPD.

Showcase Your Business with DRI’s Gift Guide 🎁

The Downtown Holiday Gift Guide is back! Set to launch in late November, it’s perfectly timed for Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, putting your products in front of holiday shoppers.

Photoshoot Dates: November 14th & 15th

Item Drop-Off: We’ve extended the item drop so more retailers can participate. Please bring your items to DRI by November 13th, no later than 4:30 p.m.

Our photographer and I will handle the styling and photography of your items and will let you know when they’re ready for pickup. Please also email me with the item names, prices, and categories, or I can select categories for you.

Categories: Gifts for Her, Accessories, Gifts for Him, Gifts for the Home, Food & Beverage, Self Care, Gifts for Kids, Gifts for Pets, Gifts Under $20

All retailers received full details by email, but feel free to reach out with any questions! You can reply to this email or contact me directly at [email protected].

Prepare for Small Business Saturday 🛍️

Small Business Saturday is Saturday, November 30th from 10am - 6pm at various businesses throughout downtown, and you’re invited to participate! This event is perfect for clearing out last season’s products and encouraging local shopping for the holidays.

Gain Knowledge & Network

Best Emojis to Boost Engagement 😊

Did you know that using the correct emojis can boost engagement? Social media posts, newsletters, and email blasts using certain emojis may boost the number of clicks you receive. Check out this article by digital marketing expert Christopher Hüneke to see which emojis you should be using.

Tired of Boring Captions? 💬 

Writing social media posts for the same content daily is exhausting. At a certain point, you run out of ideas. If you haven’t already, try an AI generator! I’m testing out ahrefs.com, and so far, I really like it. I can easily upload an image and select the tone I want (formal, casual, engaging, etc.). Choosing whether or not to include emojis and hashtags is as simple as clicking a button. In seconds, I have an interesting caption for my social media posts. The generator also works when I don’t upload a picture but add a brief description.

Try it out for your next post and let me know what you think!

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 November 11-17.

• Straight Street Youth Night on Friday, 11/15 & Saturday, 11/16 from 4pm - 11pm

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

• Jefferson Center Closure on Friday, 11/15, 2024

  Closure: 6th St SW between the loading dock and Campbell Ave

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.

Parking Information

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.

Fill out the form.

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!

Submit a job listing here.

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.

Submit an event here.

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!

Important Contacts