Business News - September 30

🎅 Two Months Until Christmas 🎄

Author

Joya Garris
September 30, 2025

Happy Tuesday!

Today’s Top Three:

  • Register for Small Business Saturday!

  • Prepare for the Downtown Holiday Gift Guide.

  • Roanoke’s largest (free) Christmas celebration returns on December 5, 12, & 19! Who’s ready for Delta Dental Dickens of a Christmas?

Keep reading to stay informed!  

- Joya Garris, Director of Marketing & Communications

Get Involved

Small Business Saturday Registration 🛍️ 

Don’t forget to register for Small Business Saturday on Saturday, November 29, in Downtown Roanoke! All participating locations will be listed on DRI’s event webpage, calendar event, Facebook event, and feature post.

Join us in promoting downtown shopping!

Dickens of a Christmas 🎄 

Delta Dental Dickens of a Christmas returns the first three Friday nights in December (5, 12, & 19)! We’re asking businesses to stay open late to accommodate the increased foot traffic. All businesses that do will be included in our Roanoke Times insert (you can view last year’s here). Please submit any of your holiday events to our website so we can help promote those!

The Elf on The Shelf Adventure in Downtown Roanoke is returning as well. We will send registration information in the next week or so. Keep your eyes peeled.

Stay Informed

New Awnings Finished 🧑‍🌾 

The bright blue awnings offer a refreshing look for the Historic City Market. Not only are they gorgeous, but they allow the market to be fully utilized and protect our vendors (and their products) from the elements. The project is complete just in time for all of the wonderful fall events.

DRI & 202 Social Offering a FREE Movie 🎬️ 

Friday, October 24th | Activities begin at 6pm

DRI and 202 Social House are joining forces to bring a free movie to the market! Enjoy the original Ghostbusters movie, free popcorn, snow cones, and kids’ activities in Market Square. Activities begin at 6pm and the movie starts at dusk. Bring your friends and lawn chairs! Additional details coming soon.

Holiday Market ❄️ 

Friday, November 14, 2025 | 5pm-8pm

After the Sidewalk Sale, we received several requests for another shopping day to help increase foot traffic. We’re organizing an evening Holiday Market and a Toys-for-Tots toy drive with a special guest (to be announced)! We ask businesses to remain open later than usual on this day. More details and registration link to come. Stay tuned.

Gift Guide Returns 🎁 

DRI’s holiday gift guide will return this holiday season to help small businesses promote their products. Start thinking about which items you want us to feature. Click here to check out last year’s gift guide.

The photoshoot will likely happen during the first week of November! Participating businesses will drop off their items to DRI, and we will have them professionally photographed. Then, we will return them. We will have your items for at least 2 days during the photoshoot.

Sections include:

  • Gifts for Her

  • Accessories

  • Gifts for Him

  • Gifts for the Home

  • Food & Beverage

  • Self Care

  • Gifts for Kids

  • Gifts for Pets

  • Gifts Under $20

  • Restaurants

  • Holiday Events

Are there other sections you’d like to see? Email Joya your suggestions.

Ambassador Update 💙 

The Downtown Roanoke Ambassador Program has a few new faces! Please say hello and introduce yourself if you see them. We’re thrilled to welcome Alayna, Robert, and Dynasty to the team.

Gain Knowledge & Network

Planning for Black Friday and Small Biz Sat? 📓 

Before the big shopping days arrive, discover the need-to-know trends on consumer behavior and winning performance marketing strategies with Retail Brew’s recent article.

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 September September 29 - October 5.

  • Straight Street Youth Night on Friday, 10/3 and Saturday, 10/4 on Luck Ave SW between 3rd St and 4th St

  • First Fridays on Friday, 10/3 on Franklin Ave SW, between Williamson Rd and Jefferson St

  • Taubman Late Night on Friday, 10/3 at the Taubman Museum and on Salem* Ave

  • Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration on Saturday, October 4 on Market St, between Norfolk Ave Salem Ave

Additional closures:

  • Drainage Project — Find updates and closures here.

Upcoming Festivals, Concerts, & Events 🎉 

We’ve officially entered festival season! Whether you want to get involved or need to staff your business, mark your calendars for the following festivals and 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!