Business News - October 29

👻 Costume Contest with Cash Prizes 💰️

Author

Joya Garris
October 29, 2024

Downtown was crawling with spooky celebrations over the weekend. Luckily, the fun continues this week. Don’t forget to join us for the Downtown Employee Halloween Costume Contest where you could win cash prizes.

Today’s Top Three:

  • We’re holding a Holiday Night Market on the Historic Roanoke City Market to bring additional foot traffic downtown.

  • Register for Small Business Saturday! #ShopSmall

  • The Holiday Gift Guide returns to help you showcase holiday merchandise.

Keep reading to stay informed!  

- Joya Garris, Community Engagement and Communications Manager

Stay Informed

Business Feature: Twisted Corner

A new event venue is open in Crafteria!

Twisted Corner is a premier private event venue offering full-service in-house catering, rentals, and expert planning to make your special occasion unforgettable. The space is perfect for private celebrations, corporate gatherings, unique public events, and more.

The owners have been in the events and catering business for a combined 30 years and love calling Roanoke home.

Don’t miss the Open House on Sunday, November 3rd from 11am-4pm!

Ambassadors in Action 📸 

Dr Pepper Day

Our Hospitality Team offered directions, provided general information, and took photographs of visitors at Dr Pepper Day in Market Square. Even Joe Cobb had his picture taken by Anthony!

#hospitality

Get Involved

Employee Halloween Costume Contest 🎃

Unleash your creativity and compete for CASH prizes at the Downtown Employee Halloween Costume Contest in Market Square! We want to see your best costumes. Witches, ghosts, cats, pumpkins, vampires, and more are welcome. Join us for registration starting at 12pm on Thursday, October 31st. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we’ll be hosting inside the City Market Building.

💵 Prizes: $200 for 1st place, $100 for 2nd place, $50 for 3rd place, and $100 for best group.

Promoting Local Shopping with a Gift Guide 🎁

We’re excited to announce that the Downtown Holiday Gift Guide is returning this year! The guide is published around the end of November to coincide with Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.

Photoshoot Days: November 14th & 15th

Please bring your items to DRI no later than November 11th by the end of the day. Our office closes at 4:30pm.

Our professional photographer and I will arrange your items, photograph them, and email you when they can be collected. Additionally, please email me with the item names, prices, and categories. If you do not select categories, I will use my best judgment.

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

Full details were emailed to all retailers. If you need more information or have questions, please let me know. You can hit “reply” on this email or send a message to [email protected].

Extend Your Hours During the Holiday Market!  

Keep your doors open for our new Holiday Night Market on Saturday, November 23rd from 4-8pm. We are excited to partner with Savvy Events once again to bring craft vendors, holiday-themed vendors, and regular Farmers Market vendors setting up for an extended day for customers to meet their holiday shopping needs! Additionally, this event will be family-friendly with free activities for kids throughout the Market area!

Interested vendors can reach out to Jason Lane at [email protected] to apply to join the event.

Join us 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.

Registration Form

Complete the form to participate in this year’s Small Business Saturday event.

downtownrke.typeform.com/to/cWY2PMWD

Dickens of a Christmas 🎄

Stay open late.

Boost your holiday sales by staying open during Dickens of a Christmas!

DRI will list your business in a special Roanoke Times Dickens insert if you commit to staying open late each night of Dickens (Dec. 6, 13, and 20), which is FREE promotion for your business!

If you haven’t already done so, hit reply on this email to let us know you’re staying open late.

Volunteer with us.

As a nonprofit, we rely on wonderful voluneteers to make Dickens a success. We’re looking for help with Santa’s Workshop, carraige rides, parade lineup, and other exciting activities.

Gain Knowledge & Network

Get a Budget-Friendly Headshot 📸 

Ad 2 Roanoke is hosting Headshot Happy Hour at The Quarters on Wednesday, November 6, from 5:30-7:30pm.

Cost is $10 for members and $20 for non-members.

Elevate Your Business: Conference 📝

November 7-8 | Freedom First Credit Union (207 Bullitt Ave SE)

Elevate is a conference designed to provide local businesses and nonprofits with information, resources, and motivation to generate growth. FFCU will bring you valuable content and engaging speakers. Learn new tactics to implement in your business or nonprofit and make valuable connections with other business owners and leaders in the community. Elevate has general and breakout sessions designed around Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Women and Minority-Owned Businesses.

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 October 28 - November 3.

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!