Around the Noke
Posts
☆ September Local Business Openings

☆ September Local Business Openings

Mama Jean's, Airport Scare, and Fall Foliage Report.

September 29, 2025

^{Could your business use a boost? Advertise with us. Find out more}^here.

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Roanoke! It’s September 29th, and that means it’s National Coffee Day. Did you know that the average American drinks 2.7 cups of coffee a day? So grab your mug, pour yourself another, and let’s dive into what’s brewing around the valley. Cheers!

In today’s Around the Noke:

September Local Business Rundown
Mama Jean’s Gets National Recognition
Fall Foliage Report

Let’s get into it!

Sponsored by Big Lick RV Rentals

Looking to go camping without all the hassle? Big Lick RV Rentals has you covered with a whole fleet of fully stocked RVs—perfect for weekend getaways, family adventures, extra bedroom for the holidays, or tailgating at a Hokies game. 🏈

The best part? They’ll handle delivery and setup. For our readers, Big Lick RV Rentals is offering a special discount. Get $25 off your next booking when you use the code ATN25. You can book through the link below, or they would be happy for you to call them at (540) 524-2227.

🔥 Mama Jean’s Gets National Recognition

Mama Jean’s, a local favorite, just landed on Southern Living’s “Top 50 BBQ Joints in the South.”

The story begins in 2018, when pit master Madison Rucker relocated from Charleston, SC, and started serving what is considered some of the best BBQ in Roanoke. You can grab a plate at Mama Jean’s at 3464 Brandon Ave SW, where they’re renovating their new brick-and-mortar spot in the former Jimmy’s building.

✈️ Scare at Roanoke Airport — But New Tech Saves the Day

Wednesday night brought a few tense moments when a United Express flight landed long on a rainy runway. Thankfully, all 53 passengers and crew walked away unharmed.

The hero? Roanoke’s Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) — basically a bed of crushable concrete blocks that acts like a giant foam pit, safely stopping planes before they overshoot. The airport invested millions in upgrading this system last year, and it just proved its worth.

🍂 Fall Foliage Report

Last week, we talked about fall getaways - now we will give you an update on where the state is with the leaves changing.

The Virginia Department of Forestry just dropped its latest Fall Foliage Report, and we’ll keep sharing updates each week so you know exactly when (and where) to catch peak color.

September was a great month for local business openings and reopenings, so we thought we would give you a recap. Don’t worry — we threw in some new ones for this week too.

🥪 Dilly Dally | 1511 Eddy Ave, Salem
🌽 Basil's Farm Market & Gifts | 4520 Brambleton Ave #A, Roanoke
💪 Sculpt Wellness and Weight Loss | 5115 Bernard Dr Suite 106, Cave Spring
⛳ Salem Golf Simulator | 200 E 4th St, Salem
🍗 Wings Etc. | 260 Wildwood Rd, Salem
🥯 Donnie D’s Bagels and Deli | 3239 Brandon Ave SW, Roanoke
☕ Kind Brew Coffee Co. | 3555 Electric Rd Ste B1, Cave Spring
🛍️ Blue Ridge Bodega | 108 Market St SE, Roanoke

If we missed something, just hit reply and let us know!

Upcoming events that you do not want to miss this week.

If you see “$” in the event description, that means it is a paid event. Events with no “$” are free to attend!

Wednesday - Oct 1
🎶 Béla Fleck, Edmar Castaneda & Antonio Sanchez Trio @ Jefferson Center (Shaftman Hall) | $ | Roanoke | 7:30 PM | (details)

Friday - Oct 3
⚡ AC/DC Tribute – Shoot To Thrill @ Dr Pepper Park at the Bridges | $ | Roanoke | 6 - 10 PM | (details)
🎙️ Sugaray Rayford in Concert @ Jefferson Center (Fitzpatrick Hall) | $ | Roanoke | 8 PM | (details)

Sunday - Oct 5
🩰 World Ballet Company – Cinderella @ Jefferson Center (Shaftman Hall) | $ | Roanoke | 3 PM | (details)
🎸 Elvis Costello & The Imposters – “Radio Soul!” Tour @ Berglund Performing Arts Theatre | $ | Roanoke | 8 PM | (details)

Monday – Sep 29
Big Lick Brewing Co. | Irish Music Session | 6:30 PM

Sunday - Oct 5
The Spot on Kirk | Maiden & Crow Presents: The Autumn Horror Road Show | 7:30 PM

Monday
75° 🌡️ 63° | 🌥️ | 24% | 💨 NE 8 mph

Tuesday
73° 🌡️ 57° | 🌧️ | 64% | 💨 NNE 6 mph

Wednesday
77° 🌡️ 49° | 🌤️ | 10% | 💨 NE 7 mph

Thursday
71° 🌡️ 50° | 🌤️ | 11% | 💨 ENE 8 mph

Friday
70° 🌡️ 47° | 🌤️ | 13% | 💨 ENE 6 mph

Saturday
76° 🌡️ 48° | 🌤️ | 17% | 💨 ENE 6 mph

Sunday
78° 🌡️ 52° | 🌤️ | 22% | 💨 ENE 5 mph

💧🌡️ Smith Mountain Lake water temp = 76.7 ºF

See y’all around the Noke! 👋