Star
The Williamson Road evolution: from cruise-ins to massage parlors and back again

Drivers aren’t the only ones taking off

williamson road sign

Susan Bahorich Reporter
5:10 p.m. EDT, May 1, 2012

ROANOKE, Va.—
There were the good ole’ days, then the not so great days.

“Things had gone a little awry,” explains Wendy Jones, Williamson Rd Area Business Association. “Williamson Road was essentially suffering route 66 syndrome, things had been going downhill.”

Rundown buildings and questionable businesses dotted Williamson Road until some folks said enough’s enough.

Says Jones, “They went out and cleaned it up, and got rid of things like the massage parlors and the triple-x and we’ve brought it back to where it was more viable, and it’s been much more viable.”

Better; especially for smaller businesses.

Rea Jeong has been cooking up his “American Dream” since the late 90s when he came to the U.S.

Nearly 15-years later, he owns Wonju Korean Restaurant in Lamplighter Mall.

“This month is 2-years,” says Jeong proudly.

Entrepreneur felt a kinship between his native land and Roanoke; Wonju’s sister city.

“We want them to know Korean culture & Korean food that’s why we picked here,” explains Jeong’s translator Annie Hamrick.

At El Rodeo, the cuisine may be different, but the thought is much the same.

Since opening in 2004, business has been booming and employees say it because of the location.

“Williamson Road is a good place to have a business because it’s in the middle of Roanoke. And I mean, what can’t you find here!” exclaims waiter Jorge Garnica.

It’s a message the Williamson Road Area Business Association has been trying to spread for years.

“It’s interesting,” says Jones, “Williamson Road has always been the incubator of the city, businesses start here and they grow and they may move to a different place for more space, but some of them stay and they stay for a long time.”

Some of those businesses- like B&D Lock Company.

Robert Frydrych started this business on Williamson Road 30-years ago.
It grew, as the area around it evolved.

“The traffic on Williamson Road still one of the largest in this area, as far as road traffic it’s one of the heaviest traveled,” explains Frydrych.

The Williamson Road Area Business Association hopes by offering people services they want, it’ll keep that traffic flowing.

Explains Jones, “I can get my haircut, get lunch, take the kids to the park, go a store get groceries, go to hardware, get my clothes cleaned, get my car repaired and have some keys made all in one 5 to 7 miles stretch. Where else can you do that?”

One of Williamson Road’s big events, Star City Motor Madness is coming up at the end of June.

The event to celebrate cars and the love of “cruising” is June 29th and 30th.