Downtown Norfolk, Virginia

rdf:langString Downtown Norfolk, Virginia

rdf:langString Downtown Norfolk

rdf:langString Norfolk Central Business District

rdf:langString "The Heart of Virginia's Waterfront"

rdf:langString Downtown Norfolk Historic District

rdf:langString Norfolk Central Business District

rdf:langString Cassell, Charles E.; Et al.

rdf:langString Classical Revival, Beaux Arts, Italianate, Colonial, Federalist, Victorian

rdf:langString Norfolk's Freemason Historic District at sunset

rdf:langString Virginia Landmarks Register

rdf:langString bottom

rdf:langString Skyline of Downtown Norfolk

rdf:langString Artist's Depiction of Downtown Norfolk.jpg

rdf:langString Skyline of Downtown Norfolk Looking Towards Portsmouth.jpg

rdf:langString Artist's Depiction of Downtown Norfolk's Road Layout

rdf:langString "Thou Shalt Grow"

rdf:langString "The Heart of Virginia's Waterfront"

rdf:langString yes

rdf:langString hd

rdf:langString Downtown Norfolk

rdf:langString ZIP code

rdf:langString left

rdf:langString USA Virginia#USA

rdf:langString Map of the U.S.

rdf:langString Location of Downtown Norfolk in the contiguous United States

rdf:langString Central Business District

rdf:langString Downtown Norfolk serves as the traditional center of commerce, government, and culture in the Hampton Roads region. Norfolk, Virginia's downtown waterfront shipping and port activities historically played host to numerous and often noxious port and shipping-related uses. With the advent of containerized shipping in the mid-19th century, the shipping uses located on Norfolk's downtown waterfront became obsolete as larger and more modern port facilities opened elsewhere in the region. The vacant piers and cargo warehouses eventually became a blight on downtown and Norfolk's fortunes as a whole. But in the second half of the century, Norfolk had a vibrant retail community in its suburbs; companies like , High's, Colonial Stores, Goldman's Shoes, Lerner Shops, Hofheimer's, Giant Open Air, Dollar Tree and were regional leaders in their respective fields. Norfolk was also the birthplace of Econo-Travel, now Econo Lodge, one of the nation's first discount motel chains. Similarly, the advent of newer suburban shopping destinations spelled demise for the fortunes of downtown's Granby Street commercial corridor, located just a few blocks inland from the waterfront. Granby Street traditionally played the role as the premiere shopping and gathering spot in the Hampton Roads region. Retailers ranged from low-priced variety stores such as Woolworth's and Grants to more upscale department stores such as (1898-1988), Rices Nachmans (1918-1985) and (1898-1973), and fine hotels and theaters lined its sidewalks. However, new suburban shopping developments promised more convenience and comfort. The opening of Pembroke Mall in Virginia Beach, the region's first climate controlled shopping mall, and JANAF Shopping Center in Norfolk's Military Circle area, helped foment Granby Street's spiral into commercial obsolescence. With amenities such as ample free parking at the door of one's favorite store, and in the case of Pembroke Mall, climate control, the businesses of downtown's Granby Street found it harder and harder to compete. Beginning in the 1920s, Norfolk's city leaders began what would be a long push to revive the fortunes of its urban core.