"We saw an opportunity to bring our Keller Tavern concept to Roanoke and my Arlington Music Hall concept to Roanoke,” Moon said.
The details
Moon and DeWald are anticipating to hold the first concert at Roanoke Live July 25. Roanoke Tavern is expected to open mid-August, followed by Cafe Republic in September, Moon said.
Roanoke Tavern is a laid back space where friends can gather to enjoy hot wings and beer, Moon said.
“The success of the Keller Tavern has truly been our customers and our staff,” DeWald said. “We have a lot of staff that have many years of tenure and a lot of customers [who] we could probably [all] name. We want to bring that to Roanoke.”
Cafe Republic is a brunch restaurant that originated in Fort Worth by a police officer and supports first responders, DeWald said. The cafe is known for its Texas-shaped waffles, which can be topped with chocolate chips, blueberries and strawberries, Moon said.
The building is 7,000 square feet and will house Roanoke Tavern and Cafe Republic as two separate food joints, Moon said.
The restaurants will have different hours, with Cafe Republic open seven days a week until 2 p.m. and Roanoke Tavern open from 11 a.m.-midnight on weekdays and 11 a.m.-2 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Moon said.
Zooming in
The outdoor space will be partially closed and temperature controlled. It will include a stage for concerts, comfortable chairs and a dance floor. The fence was raised from 6 to 8 feet, which will keep out the noise and view of passing cars on US 377, Moon said.
“You’re going to have a real concert experience," Moon said. “Arlington Music Hall presents quality shows, 160 shows a year, [with] internationally touring artists from Night Ranger to Air Supply ... We’re going to bring the same type of production capabilities to Roanoke.”
The concert venue can also be changed for different artists, Moon said. In addition to comfortable seating, the outdoor space will have tables, rocking chairs and theater seats.
“It matches the flexibility that we will have,” Moon said. “If we want to clear this out and do an [electronic dance music] show or a foam bath ... we can do that.”
What’s next?
Roanoke Live will showcase nationally known artists as well as local talent within Roanoke, Moon said. The lineup of artists include Moses Snow playing songs by Elvis Presley on Aug. 23 and Direct from Sweden performing ABBA songs Sept. 12.
Next year, Roanoke Live will host more nationally touring bands like Ambrosia, which will perform March 6. The Dwarfinators, a wrestling group, will be coming in March and the venue will be transformed into a boxing ring, Moon said. Tickets can be purchased for these concerts online starting at $20.
“Roanoke is a thriving downtown area,” Moon said. “It's a model for a lot of cities to follow ... [City officials] have some high expectations on what my partners and I can bring, and we want to deliver on that.”
