It has worked well on Williamson Road: the Williamson Road Area Business Association (WRABA) has helped business along that busy commercial corridor in Roanoke City and Roanoke County gain a stronger voice when it comes to affecting change there. Future improvements that could make Williamson Road more pedestrian-friendly and more pleasing to the eye no doubt is helped along by the weight of WRABA, which recently put the focus on retailers there again via a “Restaurant Week” and a wine festival.
Now Brambleton Avenue businesses are wondering if some type of merchants association might do them some good as well: last week about 50 people showed up at the Brambleton Recreation Center to meet with city and county officials to start exploring that issue. Any association could debut with an event as early as next spring.
Lisa Soltis, an economic development specialist for Roanoke City, was among those on hand to talk with local business representatives. “There’s a collaborative effort with the businesses to accomplish more – to co-op advertise would be one of the benefits; there are special events that could be done – lots of opportunities,” said Soltis. “It will be fun to uncover their needs [today] and see what’s available.”
WRABA’s Restaurant Week was “a great example,” said Soltis of the type of activity that Brambleton Avenue – in southwest Roanoke County and in part of the city – could also undertake if they decide to band together formally in some sort of association.
Jill Loope is economic development director for Roanoke County: “We’ve had some interest from merchants along the Brambleton Avenue corridor …in aligning and forming an association that could help them promote their businesses.” Loope said WRABA’s impact in that corridor has meant improvements like “trash cans, banners, lighting … various things that improvement pedestrian traffic. That’s what we’re talking about here.”
– Gene Marrano
