Last fall, my buddy Todd Marcum asked if I’d be willing to play some music for the grand opening of a new store in town called 3 Balloons, run by Todd’s friend Steve Stinson. I had no idea what 3 Balloons was and had never heard of Steve before, but my calendar was open, so I said yes. At the time, I thought I was doing Todd a favor. As it turned out, he was doing me one.
At the appointed hour, I drove over to meet Steve and his merry band of creatives. What I discovered was one of the most delightful experiences I’ve had in a long time—and one of Roanoke’s best-kept secrets.
3 Balloons bring something the world seems a little short of these days: joy, laughter, and love. They all comes free with every visit and everything that they sell.
They call themselves “The Happiest Store in Town.” After spending time there, I have no doubt that they are.
So what exactly is 3 Balloons?
First of all, their motto is “Perfectly Imperfect”. Their Facebook page says that 3 Balloons is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the Roanoke Valley that provides meaningful employment opportunities for adults with disabilities. That's true, but it hardly tells the whole story. Visit their website and you'll learn about Director Steve Stinson and the innovative model he has created for community inclusion. By combining a retail storefront, creative workshop, and children's bookstore, 3 Balloons creates a welcoming environment where individuals with developmental disabilities can work, interact with customers, and participate fully in community life. The storefront also helps challenge misconceptions by showcasing the creativity, talent, and work ethic of the people who work there.
All of that is inspiring. But those words alone don't fully capture what I experience every time I walk through the door as a performer or customer. A few other words come to mind.
The first word that comes to mind is LOVE.
As a performing musician, I want to do more than play songs. I want to connect with people. From the moment I arrived, Steve and his team welcomed me like family. They were engaged from the first guitar tuning to the final encore. They sang along to songs they'd never heard before. They laughed, smiled, clapped, and cheered throughout the performance. In all my years of playing music, I don't think I've ever felt so much genuine love from an audience. It's simply who they are. It's woven into the culture of the place. Their love is joyful, courageous, and contagious.
The second word is PRIDE.
The team members at 3 Balloons take tremendous pride in themselves, in one another, and in the products they create. These aren't mass-produced items rolling off some distant assembly line. Every piece is handcrafted by one of the artists, and every completed project is celebrated as an authentic expression of that person's talents and abilities. Each piece is signed by its creator. This past weekend, I purchased a beautiful plaque made by Alex. We shared a special moment, took a few pictures together, and talked about his work. That plaque now hangs in my home, and every time I look at it, I'll remember the pride that went into creating it. You won't find anything quite like it at Walmart, Amazon, or eBay.
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| Alex and I with the beautiful sign that he created |
The final words are HAPPINESS and GRATITUDE.
The creative team at 3 Balloons is genuinely happy and deeply grateful for the opportunity to share their talents with others. They bring that happiness into every interaction, every conversation, and every piece of artwork they create. "The Happiest Store in Town" isn't a slogan. It's a perfectly accurate description. No matter what burdens you carry through the front door, I suspect they'll feel a whole lot lighter when you leave.
3 Balloons is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is located at 536 McClanahan Street in Roanoke. Stop by sometime. And tell them Bob sent you.
I’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts. Have you been to 3 Balloons or know of another store like it? How does a store like 3 Balloons fit in with modern culture today? Let me know in the comments. The questions are open to everyone. I hope our exchanges remain thoughtful, respectful, and productive.
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Thank you for reading, and for walking this road with me.
