Can the Roanoke people please stand up? (Salem, Franklin: salons, house)

[2thepoint]

Hey now, this is '2thepoint' becuz that is what I do...I need some info and I was hoping Yal can give it 2 me... Ok, shall we begin..my fam (cousins) and I are considering moving to Charlotte or roanoke, but we need some questions answered frist? Now, we are a very open family who is from all different race backgrounds, so it doesn't matter if you're black or white, just as long as u keep it real with us? Do yal feel me? Ok, let's begin: Are there any ethnic hair stores in these parts? U know the vietnamese people operate them along with the nail salons, but I don't care who's runing them- I just want to know does Roanoke have them??? What abt good ol holy-ghost filled churches?? U know the ones where you go @ 7pm. and don't get out until 11pm becuz somebody got the holy ghost?!! How abt the schools? We prefer the 'city' even though we keep hearing Roanoke Co. has better schools...not with that- my fam wants diversity- (u know a little bit of this and a little bit of that) What kind of food stores yal running? Is there an Aldi's in your area? What abt Sav-a-lot??? Oh, my cousin (with her hard head) want to know if Roanoke has a YMCA???? U know, 4 the kids?? What kind of fun yal got down there for the kids??? What is the % of black people in Salem? It's not one of those cities with a house every 10 blocks, is it? Not trying to offend anyone, I'm just asking questions...enlighten a sista...I got love 4 everybody!!!

[seanpecor]

I'd definitely visit both Charlotte and Roanoke. Don't just drive through - spend a couple days in each place. You'll probably have your answer then. Charlotte is a much larger metro area. It's going to have more of everything. Of course, that also means it might have more of what you don't want also.

Roanoke City is pretty diverse. I'm certain there are ethnic hair stores - I've seen a bunch of nail salons. Roanoke has a pile of churches and based on some articles I've read at Roanoke.com there are more than a few of the sort of churches I think you're describing. I don't know of any Aldi's or Sav-a-Lots. Here the big grocers are Kroger and Food Lion, with lots of Minute Markets (well, where I live, in Franklin County, anyway).

There are a ton of YMCAs. In the city, out in the 'burbs, and even in the small towns. The YMCA in the small tonw of Rocky Mount (30 minutes south of Roanoke) has the largest, newest and nicest, with two separate complexes (one for adults and kids 13 and older, the other for kids 12 and under). Both complexes have basketball gyms; the gym for the younger group has some kind of state of the art floor designed to reduce injuries. It's pretty cool.

Sean

[gottaGetOut]

"Big Lick" has ethnic hair stores, and plenty of customers to support them.

After four years in Roanoke, and an occ. visit to Charlotte, if I had family to raise, I'd choose the Roanoke/Salem/Vinton area. Alot more affordable to live and somewhat less killin'!

Start loving the outdoors, and you'll have plenty to do. Price of gas sucks, but Roanoke has the distinction of much more beautiful geography than Charlotte. I suspect the Roanoke area to be more diverse, and there are enough colleges in the region to have lots to do also.