After 4 Years, My Impression of Roanoke (Salem, Orange: apartments, neighborhoods, school)

[Watchful]

Originally Posted by CrowGirl

Thank you Paul and others for this thread and these impressions. My husband and I have lived in Massachusetts for the last 3 years but lived in Florida for 15 years prior to that. We're planning on retiring in just over 5 years so we've started doing our homework on places to retire and Roanoke has been bubbling up to the top. I think we may need to make a trip down there to see for ourselves!

CITY-DATA really helped us figure out what we were looking for years ago. We took some mini-trips here many years ago and chose to stay in a B&B and it really helped us get a feel for the area - and we did this in different times of year.

We'll leave the light on for ya CrowGirl!

[CM585]

This was a great read! Thank you for taking the time to share.

My partner and I are thinking of moving to Roanoke from Rochester, NY in September of this year. I work in healthcare (patient registration) and he works in Hospitality. My partner is originally from Rochester and I am from the UK. We both have tattoos and subtle facial piercings. Do employers in Roanoke generally frown upon piercings?

We're also wondering what might be a good starting area to rent - we are a drug-free, alcohol-free household with one dog and one cat. We're looking for an area that is safe but reasonably priced. Any thoughts you can share from experience would be much appreciated.

[_burrito]

Originally Posted by CM585

. We both have tattoos and subtle facial piercings. Do employers in Roanoke generally frown upon piercings?

While some love to tout how liberal Roanoke city is (which it really isn't that liberal), you have to remember that you would be in SWVA, the reddest part of the state. Values and rules of decorum locally may place you at a employment disadvantage in your chosen field based on your piercings/tats. Food for thought.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by _burrito

While some love to tout how liberal Roanoke city is (which it really isn't that liberal), you have to remember that you would be in SWVA, the reddest part of the state. Values and rules of decorum locally may place you at a employment disadvantage in your chosen field based on your piercings/tats. Food for thought.

Oh bull. Get away with this poor advice.

[Watchful]

Originally Posted by CM585

This was a great read! Thank you for taking the time to share.

My partner and I are thinking of moving to Roanoke from Rochester, NY in September of this year. I work in healthcare (patient registration) and he works in Hospitality. My partner is originally from Rochester and I am from the UK. We both have tattoos and subtle facial piercings. Do employers in Roanoke generally frown upon piercings?

We're also wondering what might be a good starting area to rent - we are a drug-free, alcohol-free household with one dog and one cat. We're looking for an area that is safe but reasonably priced. Any thoughts you can share from experience would be much appreciated.

Plenty of tattoos and piercings but an employer may or may not see that as an issue. I think it is more of an employer thing than a region thing! Others may wanna chime in!

[ersatz]

Hello everybody. Based on what I have seen in the Roanoke area, it is six a dozen of one and half a dozen of the other.

[16 Acres]

I will say this, I don't see them as a plus in business, most of them anyway.

[_burrito]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

Oh bull. Get away with this poor advice.

When one is in a customer facing position, as OP has mentioned, tats/piercings are seen as a detriment. That cannot be argued. Not everyone you face is into modification or alternative living, and employers know this. Especially in a hospital setting.

[periwinkle06]

Agree they are not a plus for a business. They're .... distracting. And busy. They do accomplish their purpose in drawing attention, however, and for some businesses it may be appropriate - coffee shops, funky retail stores, etc.

[Watchful]

ExAustin and PaulFromHouston...

I thought of you both when I got the birria tacos from the Mama Jean's food truck yesterday. Check out their Facebook page - they are only open certain days and the menu varies. The brisket is the best in Roanoke (yeah...I know...but still...) and these tacos were just amazing! I will be scoping them out again. Right now they are in a food truck on Brambleton but will soon move to a new location near Towers (saw that in yesterday's Times).

Speaking of tacos...I am hooked on the breakfast tacos at Scratch Biscuit. One of the few places that has really good homemade tortillas - makes all the difference. Of course their biscuits are good, but the tacos are stellar. Village Grill is run by the same people so I wonder if their tacos/quesadillas are good. And the lunchtime po-boys at Scratch aka PJ's Po-Boys have amazing bread and so many combinations.

Check those places out. My son heard from someone about an authentic Mexican place, and I will try to find out what it is and go scope it out. In the meantime, don't miss these two! It was so good to get back to H-town and load up on my favorites over Labor Day!