2012.02.07
Wanted: Your ideas for a vacant Grandin Village building
The vacant building at 1327 Grandin Road.
It has been some time since a business has lived inside the old CVS building at 1327 Grandin Road.
Viva La Cupcake, Coda coffee shop, West Pharmacy, Valley Bank and Village Flowers were among the most recent tenants to depart. (Viva La Cupcake has not closed. It moved from the building at 1327 Grandin Road to 1302 Grandin Road, at the corner of Grandin Road and Memorial Avenue).
The building’s owner, Ed Walker, is ready to take a different approach to lease the space. He’s asked Roanoker Brent Cochran to use a technique called crowdsourced placemaking to come up with creative uses for the 10,000 square foot building.
It works like this: Submit your ideas for the building on envisionroanoke.com (you’ll have to register before submitting). There, you’ll also find other ideas for the building and vote for them. Any idea that gets more than 50 votes will be discussed at a meeting where attendees identify steps to implement the idea.
You can also submit an idea at a suggestion box near the entrances of Rockfish and CUPS Coffee and Tea.
The process, Cochran said, creates excitement and buy-in from the community. He also hopes the ideas will identify community needs, whether it be an adult daycare center, a wellness center, or retail space.
What do you think of crowdsourced placemaking, and do you have any ideas for the building?
Bowling alley!
Comment by Babs — February 7, 2012 @ 9:34 am
A decent brewpub. It’s that simple.
Comment by Uptheriver — February 7, 2012 @ 9:36 am
I echo the brewpub!
Comment by Amy — February 7, 2012 @ 9:58 am
A restaurant!!!
kidding…..
I am amazed at how many restaurants that small area supports.
There are like a dozen within those 2 blocks.
A brewpub would be nice but I don’t see that happening.
Comment by Dylan — February 7, 2012 @ 9:59 am
Three words: Grandin Country Club. Indoor mini golf, barcade, and stage.
Comment by SH — February 7, 2012 @ 10:04 am
How about a wine bar that offers live acoustic music and/or piano?
Would be a good stop before or after the theater, or when frequenting any other local shops/restaurants.
It’s time…
Comment by Matt — February 7, 2012 @ 10:27 am
Brewpub. Period.
Comment by Kevin — February 7, 2012 @ 11:02 am
Brewpub!
Comment by belle — February 7, 2012 @ 11:42 am
An adult version of Chuckie Cheese… like Dave and Busters… but Grandin style?
Comment by Amanda — February 7, 2012 @ 11:45 am
Put a garage door on the front, and turn it into a parking garage, since there’s no parking available in that area for the businesses already there.
Comment by Hibbert Lowell — February 7, 2012 @ 12:15 pm
Brewpub/Tap house!!!!
Comment by Kim — February 7, 2012 @ 12:49 pm
Brew Pub / Tap House!!!
Comment by Jacob — February 7, 2012 @ 12:51 pm
Put your ideas on envisionroanoke.com, not here.
Comment by tass — February 7, 2012 @ 1:02 pm
Put in a space to rent to micro manufacturing. You could create an open space, that allows multiple companies to work in an environment together as they start up. Rent could be based on the amount sales they do, so if sales are small, they pay little rent, but as they grow the more rent they pay. This would also create a space where these small companies could feed and learn off of one another. Have monthly meetings on finance, sales and marketing. Have support from one another. I got this idea from one of the local micro manufacturers. After all those jobs are created, I say put the Pub in.
Comment by jonathan hagmaier — February 7, 2012 @ 1:10 pm
Please feel free to leave your ideas here. If you want your idea to be considered then you’ll need to submit them at envisionroanoke.com as well.
Comment by Amanda Codispoti — February 7, 2012 @ 1:10 pm
I would love to see the Raleigh Court Library move into the building
Comment by Laurie Platt — February 7, 2012 @ 1:34 pm
We are in desperate need of a music store. New and used cds, records, etc.
Comment by Jason Turner — February 7, 2012 @ 1:35 pm
Brewpub!!!
Comment by megan — February 7, 2012 @ 1:36 pm
Brewpub….easy call.
Comment by rick — February 7, 2012 @ 2:01 pm
brewpubbbbbb
Comment by josh g — February 7, 2012 @ 2:02 pm
Olive Garden or another huge WalMart like the one in Clearbrook or even another Ukrops, yes, that is it, another Ukrops!!!
Comment by Mike S. — February 7, 2012 @ 3:04 pm
Trader Joe’s! It’s cheaper than the Co-OP!
Comment by Bryan — February 7, 2012 @ 3:06 pm
BREW PUB !!!!!! Can that happen like tomorrow?
Comment by scott whitaker — February 7, 2012 @ 3:42 pm
But I agree with Mike S., if not a brew pub then either the Walmart or a Home Depot. I have a big project I’m working on at home…
Comment by scott whitaker — February 7, 2012 @ 3:44 pm
I think an operator who rented space by the square foot for multiple tenants. Selling used records and CD’s, crafts, home baked goods, consignment, etc.
Comment by Angie — February 7, 2012 @ 3:53 pm
LIBRARY Already has the parking in back and people in the community can walk to it as well.
Comment by Tripp Godsey — February 7, 2012 @ 3:57 pm
How about a quick stop Vegetarian cafe?
Comment by J. Shelton — February 7, 2012 @ 3:58 pm
@jason turner. They have tried that. Remember Plan 9? Failed miserably.
Taphouse/Brew pub please
Comment by Bryan — February 7, 2012 @ 4:03 pm
There’s a library just up the road near Patrick Henry. Easily within walking distance to Grandin.
Comment by Uptheriver — February 7, 2012 @ 4:11 pm
How about some place for all those teenagers to hang out?
Comment by Lisa2 — February 7, 2012 @ 4:28 pm
Children’s hands-on science museum
Comment by RP — February 7, 2012 @ 4:30 pm
I’d love to see a wine bar, something similar to the Wine Loft like in Charlotte or Richmond.
Comment by Adam — February 7, 2012 @ 4:31 pm
How much are they paying us for our ideas?
Comment by Andrew — February 7, 2012 @ 4:33 pm
Brew Pub !
Comment by Michele — February 7, 2012 @ 4:35 pm
How about a Trader Joes, or a Music store! There’s always room for another book store
Comment by Celine — February 7, 2012 @ 4:57 pm
Trader Joe’s!
Comment by Denise — February 7, 2012 @ 5:04 pm
Garland’s Drug Store!
Comment by Mike — February 7, 2012 @ 5:17 pm
pool hall
Comment by tom — February 7, 2012 @ 5:17 pm
Trader Joes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Ann — February 7, 2012 @ 5:28 pm
MACADOS WOULD BE GREAT FUN TIME AFFORDABLE ,GOOD FOOD
Comment by RON DAVIDSON — February 7, 2012 @ 6:04 pm
Why is everyone so quick to suggest a restaurant/brewpub every time a space opens up in Roanoke. Remember it is 10,000 square feet to fill up and that takes ALOT of business to pay those bills and make the business successful. Roanoke has had a bad history of complaining when nothing is here and then when it appears not supporting it. This is the main reason a Dave and Busters will not come to Roanoke. This space needs to be filled with something that will benefit the neighborhood not just the drinking crowd. There are already plenty of bars/restaurants in Grandin. The bowling alley or a kids zone are the best ideas i have seen personally. Just my opinion and we are all entitled to that.
Comment by JT — February 7, 2012 @ 6:13 pm
Folks, We need to think multi-use facility.
Please log my vote for: brewpub/micromanufacturing/high-end strip club.
Comment by David Jonesee — February 7, 2012 @ 7:19 pm
Brewpub!!! Pleeasse!!!
Comment by Chuck — February 7, 2012 @ 7:32 pm
A brewpub? Seriously? There is CI, Spikes, Rockfish, Surf and Turf, Isaacs, and Village Grill, which all do a huge beer business. A brewpub would just take away dollars from existing businesses. That really wouldn’t bring any new people or money to the area, which is what we really need. Roanoke does waaay too much with competing businesses as it is- Lowes across from Home Deopt, CVS across from Walgreens, Dollar store across from Dollar General,etc. etc. We need something new and that will give people a reason to come out, not just a different place to drink. Over saturation is just going to close down more Roanoke businesses and end up hurting us all. Let’s get creative and think of something special that will really get some new folks out and about in Grandin.
Comment by Alex — February 7, 2012 @ 8:21 pm
Between the co-op, church, movie theatre and apartments, there is next to no parking available in that lot behind the building. Add to that the on street parking wasted by all the “traffic calming” concrete, and there’s just nowhere to park in that area. It is the reason the businesses located there get little to none of my business. Want to do something with that building? Bulldoze it, and make a public parking lot out of it, so customers of existing businesses would have somewhere to park!
Comment by Betty Tilmer — February 7, 2012 @ 8:54 pm
shooting range.
Comment by rich — February 8, 2012 @ 8:02 am
I submitted my idea for an Artisan Ceneter. Here is the link. Would really appreciate any “likes.” http://envisionroanoke.com/bentry/artisans-center-at-1327-grandin-road
Comment by Joe Stanley — February 8, 2012 @ 11:27 am
A brew pub would certainly fit well with the neighborhood demographic and has major growth potential in the Roanoke area.
Comment by Zak — February 8, 2012 @ 12:26 pm
For those of you who would really like a Trader Joes in Roanoke, there is a location request form on their website: http://www.traderjoes.com/about/location-requests-form.asp . Fill it out and encourage others to do the same, maybe they’ll decide to come to Roanoke!
Comment by Nate — February 8, 2012 @ 1:06 pm
I heard that a brewpub was already in the works?
Personally, I believe Grandin would thrive with a brewpub. I’ve been to several brewpubs across the country, some in small towns, some in large cities. For many reasons, people love having a brewpub in their community. There is a sense of pride that comes with the fact that a company is producing a product locally which attracts customers from inside and outside their community. I’ve also seen where brewpubs support and sponsor many community events. Let’s say they begin to do very well and produce more beer to meet demand. They could become the Sierra Nevada we were begging to come to SW VA. This is not your same old restaurant that wants to compete for limited customers and dollars. This would be a true enterprise that could become the main reason people visit Grandin and inject dollars into the Greater Grandin community. With that kind of exposure, a parking garage might be taken seriously.
Comment by Mike — February 8, 2012 @ 3:23 pm
Interesting ideas, all! I am a self professed “beer snob/beer enthusiest,” and I’d love to see another brew pub in the valley. We are lucky to have one here, sure waited a long time! I love Big Daddy’s beer at Growler’s but expect if done right we could support another. One thought, though; startup costs for a brewery are huge! Not to mention putting a kitchen into a place where there wasn’t one is also very expensive! Sorry I don’t know what the actual costs would be, just know it’s a lot! I’d say a “vodka bar”/brewpub combo would be awesome! (My definition of a vodka bar is one that would have a huge selection of different vodkas, along w/ lots of specialty drinks that use vodka.) Or at least a vodka bar and a good, BIG, selection of good craft beer on tap. Just IMHO…
Comment by Dennis — February 8, 2012 @ 5:54 pm