2008.10.30
Sub shop headed for former Mill Mountain space
It looks like a sub shop is headed for the former location of Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea in downtown Roanoke. There are signs on the windows of this vacant Campbell Avenue space, stating "Geonetti's Specialty Subs coming soon."
I don't have details yet about this sub shop and when it is expected to open.
Mill Mountain moved out of this retail space at 112 Campbell Ave. earlier this year. The shop now is located across the street, at 117 Campbell Ave., in a much larger space that owner Dave Johnson purchased.
Interesting! I'll be anxious to hear more details as they become available. Thanks, Jenny, and Happy Halloween!
Comment by Dennis — October 31, 2008 @ 11:31 am
I would like to see an authentic sub shop go in down town. As a native of NJ one of the things that I miss is the availability of ethnic foods. I would support a sub shop if it is indeed going to be a shop that makes hogies the way I remember....Yum
Comment by Joey B — October 31, 2008 @ 7:42 pm
Jenny I hope this new place does enough business during lunch because I don't think it will do too well at dinner with the poor parking options downtown.
My wife and I took our 5 year old son to the Science Museum this past Saturday and then decided to patronize the market vendors and show my son around the city. We went back to our car that we had parked in the gargage on Campbell. It was 4:05 PM and we got to the end of the garage to find out we were now being expected to pay $3.00. Of course we didn't have $3.00 because we just spent our money on the Market and the garage doesn't take credit.
We were told by the parking attendant that we were not allowed to leave until we paid our three dollars. The attendant called her manager, Jennifer Bryant of Park Roanoke, and she said we could sit and wait until 9:00 when the garage is free again or come up with $3.00. I got on the phone with Jennifer and pointed out that nowhere in the garage does it say to get out by 4:00 or you have to pay. Had there been a sign I would have either gotten out in time or went and got the money. She told me they used to have signs up but since have taken them down because people didn't pay attention to them. She said we would just have to disagree and I needed to come up with $3.00
This kind of treatment is why people don't come downtown at night. My 5 year old now has a horrible experience for his first trip to the Market and I'm sure he doesn't want to go back. Sorry downtown businesses but I guess we'll stick to the mall from now on where the managers don't have the same attitude as Jennifer Bryant.
Comment by Greg — November 3, 2008 @ 7:12 pm
Greg,
I'm sorry to hear about the parking issues that you had in downtown over the weekend. Downtown businesses and customers have complained about a lack of parking and a lack of free parking in the downtown district for quite awhile.
I'm not sure if there will be new answers to the parking dilemma. As you've probably heard, Roanoke City Council has discussed the eventual need for paid parking for downtown residents.
I don't yet know the hours of the new sub shop that's expected on Campbell Avenue. Likely, as you pointed out, lunchtime will be busy there, because of the large number of people who work in downtown.
Comment by Jenny — November 3, 2008 @ 10:19 pm
Greg, I agree with you! I volunteer-usher at MMT and not too long ago parked in the adjacent garage. There was no attendant, and no sign saying that there was a charge. So we go into Center and do our work, and upon leaving found an attendant there charging $3!!! That should be illegal! How can you charge w/o posting that there will be a charge??!! B/C you are the City of Roanoke, that's how, and their job seems to be to make parking downtown as difficult as possible. Think of how many businesses you have seen Jenny report on this blog that left downtown mostly due to a lack of parking. I try to be logical, and to me logical thinking is that a city should do all they can to help their merchants do well. After all, it IS the merchants who pay the taxes that help keep the city running! Sorry, ya'll, I'll get off of my "soapbox" now!
Comment by Dennis — November 6, 2008 @ 10:19 am
Dennis sorry you had the same problem I did! Jennifer Bryant of the parking garage doesn't see it the same way we do. She told me to take it up with the city if I had a problem with it. I sent the Mayor and City Manager an e-mail but they have ignored me up to this point.
If they are going to do this then the gate shouldn't be open with no signs. They should be issuing tickets and the ticket should say if you leave between 4 and 9 you have to pay. It's still pretty silly though. As a comparison, if I go to a restaurant for lunch and order the lunch special, the price doesn't go up to the dinner price if it takes me longer to eat my lunch. It's the time I ordered by food not when I leave that determines the price. If I order a drink during Happy Hour the price doesn't go up if I don't pay my tab before Happy Hour is over!
Way to rip people off and drive away customers Roanoke!
Comment by Greg — November 6, 2008 @ 11:04 am