I initially came to the Valley View Mall to hang out and walk to a Vietnamese restaurant that was…read morenearby. Ultimately, I didn't walk there and ended up staying put. The Valley View Mall is a nice little commercial area that can entertain many individuals and families in the Roanoke area. I arrived here on a Friday morning in March 2026. The mall itself was one large building with 2 stories of stores, restaurants, and a small food court, which wasn't open when I was there. I arrived around 10am but it was semi deserted and nothing was really open at the time. Hardly anyone walking the mall on a Friday morning until it was closer to 11am. I walked around the mall to check things out and finally found restroom facilities that were open. 90% of the mall was non restaurant merchants, which is typical of these types of shopping centers. It is one of 5 major malls in Roanoke. I was happy to see two of them during my stay, including this one. The Valley View mall was large enough to walk around for about 15 minutes to get from one end to another. The mall itself was nice and the ambiance was pretty good. I don't know if there was any WiFi connectivity or that the air conditioning was on at the time. I did see the mall janitorial staff making their rounds that morning. Probably the only activity that morning besides me walking inside the mall that March 2026 morning. Outside the Valley View Mall had a handful of various restaurants including Panda Express. I ended up eating brunch over there during my time there. It was quite quick and convenient instead of walking to the aforementioned Vietnamese restaurant a mile away. Also in walking distance is the Regal Valley View Grande theaters, where it was a nice place to kill time and watch the latest movie title. The Valley View Mall is a nice place to spend time when you are on vacation, even if it was for a couple of hours passing through. The overall experience here at The Valley View Mall was quintessentially a quiet place to where you can shop and dine in Roanoke. This mall is one of a handful of shopping venues in the city. The mall itself has a wide but limited variety of retailers that offer a lot of options for your daily needs. It's too bad that the theater is not inside the mall where you could walk but needed to drive there, but other than that, there are convenient options for restaurants and food options within walking distance. There are not many seating areas here, so best bet would be to come prepared. Sitting in your car or maybe lean against the wall while you wait for your meal being prepared are a couple of ways to avoid sitting on the concrete floor if you can help it. The mall itself is very clean and maintained daily by the mall maintenance staff. Still, it was a cozy place to hang out in when you are not wanting to really go anywhere and you don't have a rental car. It's a place where you can enjoy yourself and not be too bored, unless you're not the shopping type. There's something to do here for anyone and everyone, residents and tourists alike. Recommended if you are looking for something to do while passing through Roanoke or have nothing to do on your day off of work. It really is a nice place to chill. Too bad about the theater being a far walk. At least it's walkable and have parking lots available. The Valley View Mall is located near the Roanoke - Blacksburg regional airport. It's actually 1.3 miles if you wanted to walk from the terminal out towards the mall. It's physically located at 4802 Valley View Boulevard NE. As far as parking goes, you have a lot of parking spaces here for y'all to park and enjoy the mall. As for me though, I took the local bus from Grandin Village to the mall, which took 2 buses with a stop at the 3rd street bus terminal. I got lucky enough to where when the 1st bus arrived and I got off, my connector bus pulled in 2 minutes later, so I didn't have to wait too long. Many bus routes seem to network to and from this 3rd Street Bus station terminal, so if you were to fly into Roanoke airport and want to come to the Valley View Mall, your 3 choices would be to walk 1.2 miles, uber, or take the bus all the way down to 3rd street and bus it north to the Valley View Mall. There's no bus that will connect you from the airport to the mall directly. For the most part though, the Mall is a good place with plenty things to do, but not before 10am in the morning. Roanoke tends to be a sleepy town before noon. Best thing to do is plan accordingly and come here when you can. It's a nice place to chill and grab your lunch and dinner here as well as do some shopping. 4.0 stars for the overall experience. Support local! B

I wasn't in any rush to get home and thought why not get some retail therapy in before I did so. I…read morehadn't been to a mall for a while and it's always fun to explore one that isn't familiar to you. Pulling in I was excited to see there was an Old Navy, so I knew there would be at least one place to stop. As I was parking, and I may be making this up in my head, but I saw a guy walking out with and Express bag...it had been a minute since I was in one of those (spoiler alert, Express was going out of business). Made my way inside and was impressed by the size of the space. Even though malls are trending downwards, this one was holding onto tenants better than some malls I have been in. Yes, there were stores closing up shop, the aforementioned Express, but there were stores thriving in here, Old Navy. I did a lap around both floors, stopping in both that I mentioned. I do have to admit, since Express is closed and writing a review for it is null and void at this point, but I got some pretty good deals, up to 70% off. Oh, the nostalgia that came flooding back to me from my college days. I see this place holding on and changing like most malls are doing right about now. I just checked the website for this place and they do have some stores that have or are moving in. I did not venture to the outdoor portion of this mall as I saw no need to.

Love the selection and value. The clothes and jewelry are very unique and stylish. The customer…read moreservice is excellent. Highly recommend.

Wonderful online shopping and curbside experience. It does not make up for the delightful customer…read moreservice and cozy feeling while shopping, whilst not during a pandemic. They called asking about a product with an imperfection, which seemed like stellar customer service. Everyone was masked and practice social distancing when going to pick up. I was already on foot, but they have curbside pick up. The online shopping experience was convenient and identifies items out of stock or low. Wonderful experience from start to finish.

One of the most beautiful store in Downtown Roanoke and with the greatest variety of merchandise is…read moreThe Mast General Store. Located in the corner of S. Jefferson Street and Church Avenue this store provides friendly service, and a great selection of quality products at fair prices, and often offer sales to make it easier for customers to obtain their desired item at an affordable price. There is something for everyone at the Mast General Store: a great selection of preserves, butters, jams, jellies, clothing, footwear, outdoor gear, candies, old-time favorites, and the latest styles and products of over 600 brands. Here one can find some unique and hard-to-find gifts. Just view my photographs accompanying this review and you can get a better sense of everything one can find here. I highly recommend this large department store for a nostalgic shopping experience. One you'll never forget, and would want to come back for more.

Definitely a great place to shop around if you're in the downtown Roanoke area. Such a nicely…read moreappointed interior with antiques strewn throughout. Lives up to the general store tradition selling clothing, cookware, souvenirs and snacks!

Has very nice items. However, know exact measurements of furniture you are wanting to purchase. If…read moreyou take it home and the item doesn't fit, you are SOL. This store has "no refunds on any merchandise"! She doesn't publicize this information anywhere in the store. I only know because I heard her speaking about it to a customer that asked.

Stopped in here last weekend with my mom looking for some specific items she needs for her home -…read moretwo end tables, a bench, and a computer desk. She also found that she wants a hutch, a tv stand, and a kitchen table set while we were looking in here.... lol. This store is HUGE with tons of great stuff - I think it's like 3500 sq. feet or something. They have small collectibles, lamps, candles, some drapery (small amount), and TONS of handmade Amish furniture. Prices are fair for some good quality stuff. I spent around $600 for an end table, a magazine table, a custom computer desk, a large bookshelf and a pretty good sized bench. We took everything that day except the computer desk which is going to be made to order (with the colors my mom chose) and will take about 4-6 weeks. I was impressed - I saw a lot of really cute things in here and they have TONS of furniture in different sizes and options - kitchen tables, benches, chairs, tables, end tables, beds, nightstands, tv stands, cabinets, kitchen shelves, display tables, display cabinets, bookshelves, etc. You name it - you can probably find it here. They don't deliver yet - but they will help you load your car if you need to. I'm sure we'll be back and spend tons of money here...

I finally found this place- the address is not easy to find online as I was looking looking the new…read moresister location for Second Helpings. I didn't realize it had a different name. I only had 20 minutes and blew through there as quick as possible and as far as I can tell, it's awesome.! I grabbed three things and can't wait to go back to check it out again! Great deals and a huge selection for everybody! And I love at it helps other people while helping to reduce waste as well!

Very expensive for a thrift store. The older lady that works there is not a very good customer…read moreservice representative. You ask her a question and she huffs and puffs like it's too much trouble to answer. The prices are really high compared to buying a new items on sale at high-end stores. A lot of of the items need to be thrown away. Lots of the clothes are stained or have rips in them or they kind of smell, but they don't seem to care and they don't seem to want to be bothered about it. You definitely have to check out things in boxes. I looked at a couple games and it was missing 98% of the items but their attitudes really just suck about it.

A book is like a whole new world waiting to be opened and explored. And visiting Too Many Books for…read morethe first time was like a journey to many worlds in one space and time. 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 Too Many Books, a beloved independent used bookstore located in the heart of Roanoke's Historic Grandin Village, is a perfect example. Owned and managed by Linda Stedman for many years, this cozy, two-story bookshop features a massive inventory of approximately 50,000 used books, which include fiction and non-fiction. There one can easily find vintage paperbacks as well as hardcover books in categories such as children's literature, history, science fiction, art, and philosophy; with extensive sections dedicated to Virginia, Civil War history, and genealogy. I was very impressed with the selection of books which included: antiquarian books, leatherbound books, out-of-print titles, limited editions, first editions, signed books by the author, and other collectible ephemera. It was a pleasure meeting the owner who came across as a very warm and deeply knowledgeable bookseller, as well as her other friendly staff in this bookstore with a very inviting atmosphere and fair prices. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and its amazing merchandise. The store lists portion of its specialized inventory online via its AbeBooks Merchant Page. It also hosts author signings, literary discussions, and ocational major storefront sales. As a matter of fact it was holding one of those sales today where hardcover books were 20% off until the end of the month. I particularly liked a book by former Predident Barack Obama's Chief Official White House Photographer, Pete Souza, titled: "Obama: An Intimate Portrait." The author also served as an official photographer for President Ronald Reagan. The used book in almost new condition was selling for $50, so with the discount one could buy it for $40. One can check their official Too Many Books Instagram for events and most current inventory of books. I highly recommend this used bookstore, for its inviting ambiance, fair prices, and deeply knowledgeable and hospitable owner and staff.

Difficult experience, wrapped up in a used bookshop. There are a lot of books in a claustrophobic…read morekind of way, but sure to find just about anything you want to read, from rare finds to new releases. The prices seem to be fare for used bookshop, but the service is less than ideal. To where the book I purchased was practically shoved at me, without a thank you, but just said there you go. I felt in her way, so won't be returning there.

There may be larger. But, there are none more consistent or special, for as long as I can…read moreremember. And, I'm 71! It's worth at least one ride to Fincastle! Trust me! They have the selections. They have the values. And, if you need help finding something, they'll help. Otherwise, they'll let you graze on your own. That's good service!

This is the perfect place to pick up any Christian books, they have everything from books for new…read moreChristians to all the way to stuff for pastors. And if they don't have what you want they can order that's even cheaper then Amazon.

Located next to the converted and renovated Fire Station 1 in Downtown Roanoke, Virginia, The award…read morewinning French Farmhouse Home Market is a cozy white painted brick-walled shop carrying modern farmhouse home decor, furniture, and lighting. Their style blends the past and present and is inspired by the rustic yet elegant villas of the French countryside and the clean and down-to-earth feel of the American farmhouse style. By its beautiful showroom you would think it's prices are very expensive, but they are not. They are reasonable and comparable to Pier 1. They carry high quality, beautiful, and very unique items, like vases, watering cans, and framed prints. Many items that would make wonderful gifts. Their products are hand-selected and blend the past and present. The French Farmhouse also sells unique products, including handmade items by small business makers and European antiques. A visit to this elegant store, which opened in 2021 and is locally owned by Ashly Lawson, a Franklin County native, is a very enjoying experience. When I visited the store last week I was greeted by a very friendly elegant lady, who was very cordial and answered all my questions about the store and its products and unique gifts. I highly recommend that whenever you're in Downtown, Roanoke, you go visit the store. You will enjoy the visit, and maybe discover one of those home decoration items of your dreams.

Sooooooo cute!…read more I've been following this shop on Instagram for a while but haven't been able to come inside just yet bc they were closed during my last time in town. I love the location - right beside the newly opened and renovated Firehouse 1 building. These two cute spaces compliment each other well and with the beautiful hand-made TXTUR store next door - you can really get some beautiful decor and home goods between the two. This shop is small - but packed with beautiful items that fit the name - French shabby chic farmhouse. I saw a ton of things I'd love to buy. Candles, dinnerware, candlesticks, salt and pepper shakers and wells, t-shirts, a little jewelry, pillows, seasonal decor, etc. The gal behind the counter was very friendly and they have a website and sell gift cards. I found some CUTE fall pumpkin and halloween items to die for inside as well as a honey well and a cute small stoneware jewelry dish. Highly, highly recommend you stop in if you at all love French shabby chic! (Note - the space upstairs is also an event venue)