By Debbie Adams
Rosie’s Gaming Emporium caught the attention of the entire valley as they celebrated the Grand Opening of their new $28 million expansion in Vinton on January 14 and 15. Rotating searchlights beaming upward from Rosie’s lit up the night sky for miles around.
The Grand Opening festivities included a free concert by Parmalee, a North Carolina-based country music band, on January 15. They performed their #1 hits “Carolina” and “Just the Way” as well as their new hit single “Take My Name” on Rosie’s new concert style stage.
There were drawings for cash, prizes, $1500 in free spins, a chance to win over $1 million in total jackpots, and t-shirt giveaways.
“We wanted everyone to come check out our new 33,000 square foot gaming floor that includes 350 never seen games and a remodeled high limit gaming area,” said Ernie Dellaverson, Rosie’s Regional General Manager. “We also wanted to thank the community that has been so supportive of our construction and expansion in Vinton.”
The Rosie’s expansion also includes a new, brightly lit parking garage with over 280 spaces—the first parking garage in Vinton.
Marketing Manager Jeff Spaugh says Rosie’s rented the searchlights from a company called “Hit Play,” a live event production company hired to help with the Parmalee concert. Roanoke’s Big Lick Entertainment generally books and produces most of Rosie’s shows, but the one on January 15 was a cooperation of multiple companies, Spaugh said.
In 2021, Colonial Down’s and Rosie’s donated $52,000 to 52 charities in 52 weeks across the state of Virginia. Some of those $1000 weekly donations went to local organizations including CHIP of Roanoke, Angels of Assisi, Kid’s Soar, Boys & Girls Club of Southwest VA, Kids Square, LEAP of Roanoke, West End Center for Youth, Carilion Clinic, and Blue Ridge Literacy.
In addition, Rosie’s presented generous donations of $5000 to the Vinton Breakfast Lions Club, $5000 to the Vinton History Museum, and $25,000 to the Vinton First Aid Crew on the occasion of Rosie’s official Grand Opening Day of their new facility on December 8.
Colonial Downs, owners of Rosie’s, have decided to keep it going in 2022, once again donating $1000 each week to a local charity in the communities in which they operate.
In addition to the donations, Rosie’s has proven to be a good community partner for the Town of Vinton. The tax revenues generated by Rosie’s have made significant contributions to many Capital Improvement Plan projects (in the FY22 budget) including: the Glade Creek Greenway Grant Match, Gish Mill Parking and Facade Improvements, Worksite and WorkZone Safety Packages, Traffic Signal Improvements (3rd Street/PFG/Clearview Drive), ERP Software Replacement (replacing the town’s 40-year-old software), Vinton History Museum building repairs, and the Vinton police Body Worm Cameras Grant Match.
