“This project could only lead me to one place,” says Whitney C. Brock, “one that goes back to 1930, that hosts transformative culture, and boasts that they ‘seat 1,000 people, 10 at a time.’”

Brock started her process in Downtown Roanoke’s Texas Tavern with a photo shoot that captured the story she wanted to tell. She then adjusted details to strengthen the composition while remaining true to the story. Here, she doesn’t show ketchup. “You can’t get that in the T Room!” says Brock. “But the bottles of mustard on the counter have witnessed countless stories. You are sure to hear a good story there, which makes this place one of my favorite threads in the colorful fabric that makes up our community.”

“Roanoke,” adds Brock, “is one of the most artfully giving cities that I’ve lived in, and I want to give back.”