A music hall, Spanish restaurant and boutique hotel are reviving a historic Downtown Roanoke building, thanks to Freedom First Credit Union financing.
One of Downtown Roanoke’s most iconic buildings, the former First National Exchange Bank, is getting a second life. Local developer Lucas Thornton, restaurateur JP Powell, and music industry leader John McBroom saw the historic building as more than a structure. They saw a vision for a space that intersected music, food and hospitality.
Soon, it will house a vibrant music hall, Spanish-inspired restaurant, and boutique hotel, all made possible by financing through locally headquartered Freedom First Credit Union.
“Freedom First has been critical to the rehabilitation and repurposing of this building,” Thornton said. “Their ability and willingness to see this as more than just a construction project, but to see what we are trying to do within the community has been instrumental in our success. I don’t think this project would’ve worked without Freedom First.”
Why the First National Exchange Bank Building?
Built in three phases between 1912 and 1963, the building includes rich fabric, ornate plasterwork and Federalist details, which make it a treasure to downtown. Inside are 13 Diebold vaults that tell the story of the city’s past, one even revealing intricate coins from the turn of the century and bills that were printed in Roanoke. Soon, some vaults will serve as green rooms for artists performing in The Exchange Music Hall…