Center In The Square originally opened in Roanoke in 1983 with a mission to revitalize the downtown area, making it economically viable and vibrant by generating more foot traffic. After converting an abandoned feed and seed store from 1914 in the heart of downtown Roanoke, Center In The Square’s founders invited five other nonprofit organizations to move in – rent free!
They envisioned a hub of education and tourism, where children and their families could come to one location and experience multiple historical and artistic pursuits at a time. The concept worked; Center In The Square welcomed 45,000 patrons during its opening weekend.
Now, Center In The Square is not only home to the region’s art, science, and history museums as well as live professional theatre, dance, and opera, but they’ve opened their own facilities: aquariums, the Roanoke Pinball Museum, Kids Square Children’s Museum, and Roanoke Starcade Arcade Museum. Center in the Square has stayed true to its original model: Proceeds from these ticket sales cover the rent for the other nonprofit organizations housed in the building.
Hear from Tara Marciniak, President and General Manager of Center In The Square in our segment below, and visit centerinthesquare.org for more.
