Door monitors located at 4 locations at the main entrance Roanoke City Market Building Building officials said an average of 833 people entered the food court each business day in July.
Elliott Broyles, head of the Market Building Foundation, said visitor numbers this year are up 30% from last year. He said the number of doors, along with the number of visitors directly entering the restaurant, was also higher in 2022 than in 2021.
“We are very excited and encouraged that since COVID-19, that number has increased and continues to increase,” he said.
It was timely for the building to bring in a marketing and growth consultant to cope with increased footfall. On a recent visit, the food court was sparse, reminding me nostalgically of the days 25 years ago when downtown workers packed the venue and lines formed at every booth. (This is before the door counter was installed.)
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In a positive sign, the city-owned food court at 32 Market Square SE will soon be adding a seventh restaurant. laughing bull It is scheduled to open next month on the main floor of the three-story complex. The owner of Laughing Bull said that lazy bulldog Brandon Stinnett's local food truck Stick & Spoon Ramen Bar The restaurant's kitchen and dining room are located in Lamp Lighter Mall on Williamson Road.
“We're aiming for a Japanese street food concept, some traditional and some with our own unique spin,” said Sticks & Spoons owner Jason Wu. “I'm doing ramen, and my business partner is doing hamburgers.”
One of the highlights of the menu is the ramen burger, which is a beef burger on a bun made of cooked, compressed ramen noodles, Wu said.
As a result, there are still two vacant restaurant locations in the market building. Broyles said he believes there is promise in one of them.
jeff sturgeon (540) 981-3251
jeff.sturgeon@roanoke.com
