Today I had to go to Lowe's because I needed an air-condition filter for my home system, and what I…read morecame out with was not only the product I came in for, but with the realization that Lowe's has something rare to find these days: friendly, kind, knowledgeable, and efficient associates eager to go the extra mile to help you. And that to me is not only priceless, but deserves my loyalty. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I was also awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And this Lowe's in Roanoke, Virginia is a perfect example. Lowe's has grown from a single small-town general store in 1921 into the world's second largest home improvement retailer. In 1921 Lucius Smith Lowe founded "North Wilkesboro Hardware" in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. It sold a diverse array of everyday items. After his passing away, in the early 1940's his son James took ownership, eventually bringing in his brother-in-law, H. Carl Buchan, as a partner. Then around 1946 Carl Buchan refocused the company on a new strategy eliminating wholesalers and buying directly from manufacturers to offer lower prices. In 1952 he becomes the sole owner. After his passing away in 1961 the company went public as Lowe's Companies, Inc., allowing it to fund regional expansion across the Southeast US. In the late 1970's Lowe's shifted its focus to retail "do-it-yourself" consumers under CEO Robert Strickland. And marketing was aimed at individual households. In the 1990's the company began transitioning to the massive warehouse-style store format that dominates its brand today. Today under CEO Marvin Ellison, who joined in 2018, the company has focused on modernizing its digital presence and optimizing its supply chain to better compete in the massive home improvement market. When I entered the store I found it clean, well stocked and well organized. But I had no idea where to go to find what I came to look for. So I turned to the right and started walking with the hope of finding an associate who could help me. It didn't take long for me to run into Cathy whom I immediately noticed who she was by her nametag and the way she was dressed. I asked if she could help me find what I was looking for and instead of telling me "Go to aile such and such," she actually went with me and helped me find the size I needed and the quality one I wanted. When I pointed out that these were on Sale for Buy 3 and get another one Free, she made sure to walk with me to the cashier associate also named Kathy but with a K, to let her know about the sale so she would make sure to give it to me. While I was there she asked me if I was a Lowe's Rewards Member and when I gave her my phone number we found out I wasn't so I asked her if she could sign me up. And she was happy to do so. I thanked her and asked if she had a bag to put in the filters. She went somewhere and found one of the size I needed and packed my 4 filters. Later at home I found out that these filters had a filtrete app that told you when it was time to change them and how was the quality of the air by inputting your location. In conclusion I highly recommend this Lowe's for all the reasons you already know and most of all for its exceptional customer service which to me is priceless.

I want to recognize Jeremy from the door department for providing exceptional service. He took the…read moretime to thoroughly educate me on the different types of doors--wood, steel, fiberglass--explaining the pros and cons of each material. His knowledge and professionalism gave me complete confidence in his recommendations. This is actually the second time Jeremy has helped me. The first time, I was simply browsing, and he still gave me impeccable service. I was so impressed that I returned and purchased everything he recommended. Because of his expertise, attentiveness, and genuine care, I now choose to shop exclusively with Jeremy. He's an outstanding representative of Lowe's!!

New location that the large sprawling store they moved from. The compact store offers many of the…read moreusual items, but without the risk of decision fatigue. The staff was helpful with questions and placing orders. Though there are nice things to purchase there, do not order anything. After waiting over a month for an item, without receiving call went in to ask about it. Then learned they have no control over what is shipped to them even if it has been ordered and prepaid (as their request). Though, be sure to notice some of the original features of the original train station. Nice to see a local business in a piece of area hostor

This is my favorite place to shop. When you walk in you are immersed…read moreinto a world of beauty. All of your senses are touched. Whether you want a one of a kind personalized wedding gift, a favorite addition to one of your collections or a rare gift for someone dear to your heart Steger Creek will have everything to fulfill your shopping list. I have literally shopped here close to a decade. Every Christmas I add something new for our personal decorations, something that will eventually be handed down and become part of generations of decorations into the future. The staff is very knowledgeable, friendly and the more you get to know them, they become more like family learning your tastes and being able to pick out your favorites before you even get to the store. Please do not miss an opportunity to give this shop a try. It has something for everyone.

As soon as I found out about this unique rug specialty shop located in the Cave Spring area of…read moreRoanoke, Virginia, I had to go visit it. A rug is an item of beauty. An art collectible to be enjoyed and proudly displayed for others to admire. I should know for one of the first things I purchased when I bought my first house years ago in Boston was a genuine, vintage/semi-antique, 50-year-old signed Kashan rug. After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I was also awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Tribal Rugs Gallery in the Cave Spring area of Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. Founded by Mohammed Hassanzada in Octomer of 2017, who came to America with his family to escape persecution in Afghanistan and who absolutely love this area and wonderful community. His goal is to provide, beautiful, high-quality Rugs and jewelry to the people of central Virginia. His gallery features a large collection of handcrafted rugs of many styles, colors, and sizes, as well as unique handmade jewelry sourced from regions like Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, and India. This in a welcoming, community-focused environment known for helpful and expert services. And I can personally vouch for this because he welcomed me with open-arms to his store and talked to me about the nature of his business and how he was about to receive a large quantity of unique rugs in a few days. We walked around his rug gallery and he showed me a great variety of beautiful wool and silk rugs that would make an excellent addition to any home. In addition to their handcrafted oriental rugs sales, featuring handspun wool pieces, traditional Kazak designs from Afghanistan, and intricate Tabriz city rugs from Iran in various colors and sizes, they also provide rug repair and rug cleaning. And offer pickup and delivery services for these. I highly recommend this establishment for all those looking for authentic (not imitations), genuine, hand-made rugs to beautify their homes and provide a sense of enjoyment to their families and close friends.

This company is fantastic at carpet cleaning! We had half a dozen expensive rugs (Chinese, Indian,…read more& Persian) that needed deep cleaning as they had not been cleaned in over 20+ years. We were fortunate to discover Tribal Rugs Gallery after recently moving to Salem. The owner (Mohammad) has decades of experience that produce beautiful results! He did an amazing job with our rugs and even provided videos of his cleaning process. They were bulky and heavy, but he picked them up at our home and returned them when finished. He even went "above & beyond" by bringing the rugs into our home and positioning them exactly as we desired! This involved moving some awkward furniture and measuring accurately to ensure proper alignment of the rugs with the furniture. Mohammad offers very fair pricing for the labor intensive service!! Very strongly recommend Tribal Rugs for your rug cleaning needs!

Ordered flowers from PA for delivery to sick sister-in-law in Roanoke. I gave minimal idea of what…read moreI wanted and Mary Jo created a beautiful basket AND delivered the same day. We are so pleased with the flowers and service.

I received a boquet a week ago. It was one of the most beautiful that I have ever seen. A week…read morelater, there are new blooms and most of the flowers are still like they were on the day they were delivered. I only had to trim one or two of the lilies, which. had extra buds that had not yet bloomed. Delivery was prompt. I highly recommend this florist.

We had a small, casual wedding and Antonina did an incredible job on my bouquet, and on short…read morenotice. I provided her with an inspiration photo and she used the freshest, prettiest flowers to create a stunning bouquet. She took time to listen to what I wanted and put a sample together on the spot to give me an idea of what it would look like. I will definitely go back to her for future floral needs and highly recommend her services.

Totally impressed!!! It's absolutely everything Hokies you can possibly imagine on three levels…read more My son will be starting medical school and needed swag. The VT Hokies Shop has you covered. Big, small they have it all. Service was helpful and friendly before and during checkout. Parking is nearby the building and convenient from main campus. I will be back.

These good people are wonderful. I needed a logoed shirt to wear to an event quickly in the DC…read morearea. They answered the call. Excellent customer service, quick shipping, the shirt is great quality with a crisp bright logo. Go Hokies!

I'm amazed sometimes by the amount of knowledge one person can accumulate in a lifetime about one…read moreparticular subject. That's what I was thinking during my guided tour of Historic Smithfield, a plantation house turned museum and farm. Our tour guide knew so much about the American Revolution, George Washington, the Civil War and Virginia in general. Plus so much more! He knew everything about the families and enslaved individuals who lived in that house. It was a very informative visit. I'm not even sure you can visit the inside of Smithfield without a guided tour. I should say, though, that although the guided tour was informative, I would suggest it only for adults who might have an interest in history, or people who don't have a short attention span. They cover a lot of information here, and even I was feeling like I was melting down at the end of the tour, because it was just so many facts and we went at a slow pace. So, would I recommend a guided tour for kids? Absolutely not. At least, not my kids or any kids I know. But I would suggest you let kids explore the grounds outside, and say hello to the livestock roaming the fields, and run around the garden. There's a small gift shop with a few snacks and water. The gift shop is also where you purchase admission. There's lots of parking in the gravel parking lot.

What a gem tucked away right next to the VA Tech campus! This is a must visit for history buffs…read morewhen in the area! No longer owned by the APVA, it's a private foundation now I believe, the house has been painstakingly restored and features many pieces owned by the original family. Take the tour! The on-site historian who gives them is clearly passionate and knowledgeable about the history of not only the plantation and Home, but the area as well. I could have listened to her for hours! This is reasonably priced ($8 for adults, but we found a groupon!) and the gift shop has some nice and locally made choices.

Last Friday was the Grand Opening of the relocation of Roanoke Mountain Adventures from the Wasena…read moreneighborhood along the Roanoke River Greenway, where it originally opened on April 1st of 2015, to the current relocation to the much larger location at the Black Dog Salvage property in the beautiful Grandin Village area of Roanoke, Virginia. Family-owned by Jeff and Bethany Todd since June of 2020, Roanoke Mountain Adventures is a full service outfitter offering guided trips for mountain biking, stand-up paddleboarding, and kayaking, equipment sales and rentals, and an extensive area shuttle service for a variety of do-it-yourself outdoor adventures. Their primary mission is to promote and make the Roanoke region's outdoor recreation opportunities accessible to visitors and residents. Following their relocation to the Black Dog Salvage property, owner Jeff Todd emphasized that their ultimate vision is to nurture Roanoke's "human-outdoors ecosystem" by "ensuring getting outside remains fun, affordable, local, and sustainable". Today I arrived at the well-familiar place of the Black Dog Salvage property and was amazed at the excellent job they had done of with the interior design of their establishment in this new location. Two friendly young ladies greeted me behind the front large counter and welcomed me to their new location. They chatted with me and provided me with information about the company and all the services they provided. They provided expert guided trips such as e-bike tours, mountain bike excursions, and seasonal river floating trips around the Roanoke region. Some of their most popular Guided Trips and Outing are: The Views & Brews E-Bike Tour - A guided electric bike ride that covered scenic mountain views, downtown Roanoke, greenways, and three local brewery tasting stops; Guided Mountain Bike Rides; Mill Mountain Bike Tours; and River Tubing and Kayaking. Equipment rental rates vary. For example, E-Bikes can be rented at $42 for 2 hours or $58 for a full-day rental. They even let your test ride them on the premises for fit. Through their Outdoor Gear Consignment Shop, customers bring their used high-quality gear, a staff member does research on them and sets reasonable prices. Other customers have the opportunity to purchase quality brand name slightly used products at a price they can afford and the original owner gets 60% of the sale price. Thus providing affordable options at a fraction of retail cost. They also sell the latest of camping and biking new products at reasonable prices backed by knowledgeable, trained staff to provide you with professional advice and a bike service & repair shop in case you need them in the future. I had the opportunity to observe one of them taking care of two young gentlemen looking forward to purchasing a bike and can attest to the excellent advice given. I also had the opportunity of observing Jeff, the owner, interacting with one of his repeat customers and his two kids and see the strong community relationships he maintains. I highly recommend this gem of a place for all your fun outdoor needs. As I was leaving, walking towards my car parked in their parking lot, I had the privilege of meeting the owner of Black Dog Salvage and explaining that I was about to write a review of Roanoke Mountain Adventures to send to Yelp and he told me he didn't know they were still around. I assured him that they were and better than ever before and that I could attest to this having been selected as 4th on the list of Yelp's Top most prolific Elites of 2025 and invited him to read and view my photographs of this soon to be Yelp review and the one I did of The Loft Gallery inside his Black Dog Salvage business.