Citation Page

• Clover, Cecile W. "Charlottesville Then & Now." The University of Virginia Magazine. The University of Virginia Magizine, n.d. Web. 05 June 2013. <http://uvamagazine.org/only_online/article/charlottesville_then_now>.

•  "Downtown Mall." - Cvillepedia. Cville Pedia, n.d. Web. 05 June 2013. <http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/index.php/Downtown_Mall>.

•  Shean, Tim. "City, County Planning Commissioners Revisit Common Goals ⋅ Charlottesville Tomorrow." Charlottesville Tomorrow RSS. Charlottesville Tomorrow, 5 Dec. 2012. Web. 05 June 2013. <http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/13609-common-goals/>.

Restaurants that I went to on my walking tour

Miller's Bar and Restaurant- Miller's is one of the many restaurants on the mall. Miller's was the first place I went to, to interview at. At Miller's I talked to one of the bartenders, he was pretty helpful but wasn't the nicest person to talk to, I got an uncomfortable feel from him. He did tell me that Miller's was, before it was a bar, a pharmacy. Now it is a bar that mostly sells burgers and beer. The usual crowd that comes in to Miller's is 21 or older people, because it's a bar. At Miller's they told me that the renovation in 2009 was a waste and didn't help bring in customers. When I asked about the renovation I felt as if the bartender almost got a little upset and worked up because he thought it was a waste of tax payer's money.

Chaps Ice Cream- Chaps was the second place I went into to interview. At Chaps I interviewed the two people working behind the counter, they were very nice and very helpful. I had a good experience at Chaps, it made me want to come back. At Chaps the workers told me that it started being an ice cream place in 1985, they sell mostly ice cream and coffee. They said that their most common flavor is vanilla and chocolate. Unlike Miller's the people at Chaps said that the renovation in 2009 really helped with bringing in costumers. When I asked what types of customers Chaps sold to they told me how they have so many different types of people come in, they don't really have one type of person that comes in more than another. The workers say that this was their favorite part of working at Chaps because they can meet and interact with so many different types of people.

The Nook- The Nook was the third place I went into to interview in. I talked to one the waitresses working there, she was pretty helpful but she didn't know too much. She did tell me that The Nook was established in 1951. They told me that The Nook was first owned by a women and then sold to the owner that owns it now. At The Nook they sell mostly breakfast. From the 2009 renovation The Nook now sells dinner and breakfast because more people come to the mall. The Nook also has all kinds of customers come in and eat at The Nook.

 

Thoughts When on my Walking Tour

• Here's a link to the map of the walking tour that I went on
• First Impression- Each street that I went on had a different first impression though. Market Street had a business impression, a more serious feel to it. Water Street had a more empty impression to it because it is the back of all the stores on the mall. And Main Street had a eco friendly feel to it with all the trees.  

(Water Street)

• Safety- When I went to the Downtown Mall for my walking tour I felt very safe, I went with two friends so just being with people my age made me feel even better. I feel like if I went by myself I still would have felt just as safe. Being on the mall at night is a little different than if you go during he day. I don't feel as safe at night but than again I don't feel as safe anywhere at night as I would during the day.

• Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Patterns- I feel like the Downtown Mall has a very wide variety of gender, race, and ethnicity. I wouldn't say there is more of one gender or race on the mall.

(Infront of the Omni)

• Gentrification- There isn't too much gentrification going on at the Downtown mall because there isn't much housing going on. There are some stores that have changed of altered their store front to look different or have a different feel. For example, Urban Outfitters has changed to look like the other stores around the country. This change make the store stand out from other stores on the mall, this could help customers come to the store.

(Urban Outfitters)

• Location of specific industries, retail stores, restaurants and housing- There are four banks on the Downtown Mall they are all their own building also. This shows that banking is popular on the Downtown Mall, it could show that many people go on the mall so this is a good place for banks to locate. Housing on the mall is all on the top levels of the buildings. This causes all the stores to be on the group levels. Restaurants are on both ground and top levels.

(Union Bank)

 

My Views On the Mall

    When I think of the Downtown Mall I remember all the fun I always have down there. I remember the concerts I've been to at the Pavilion and Jefferson. What always reminds me of the mall is all the great food that is there and the different choices there are.
   The Downtown Mall is a great place to go with friend and family. There are so many activities for all ages to enjoy. There are many restaurants and shops for people to go to. Having no cars allowed to drive on the mall makes it much safer and easier for people to walk around and enjoy themselves. The mall is brick paved for a nice and easy walk way for people to walk. There are also trees hanging over the walk way through out the middle of the mall, this creates a green feel to the mall, it also provides natural shade to the pedestrians underneath.

 

 

    When I first went to the Downtown Mall I was a little nervous and felt a little uncomfortable, because I had just moved from a small town in North Carolina. In the town that I did live everyone knew each other, it wasn't really a good thing to stand out from the crowd, here in Charlottesville and epically on the Downtown Mall it is acceptable to act different and how you really want to. I like how the Downtown Mall has so many different and unique people, unlike where I use to. So although my first expression might not have been the best of the Downtown Mall I have learned what a safe, fun and artsy area the mall is.
   I always feel safe on the mall. I never stay later than 9:30 on the mall though, I think the later in the night it gets the less safe it gets. This is just like any other place though. The mall has many opportunities for fun, like Fridays after 5 and concerts at the Pavilion, Jefferson, and Paramount. All ages will can enjoy the Downtown Mall In Charlottesville.

Restaurants of the Downtown Mall

Here is a link to the Restaurants at the Downtown Mall
   There are so many great places to eat on the mall, a few of my favorites are the Sushi bar at Ten, burgers at 5 guys, and ice cream at Chaps.

Basics of the Downtown Mall

    Charlottesville, Virginia is lucky to have such a nice downtown mall area. The Downtown Mall attracts so many different types of people from every gender, age, race, and ethnicity. The mall is full of over 120 unique shops and 30 restaurants of all types of food from burgers to sushi. The mall has beautiful trees hanging over the walkways to provide shade, a bricked walking area, and pictures hanging from the trees.
    The downtown mall is located on Main Street, right in the middle of the city of Charlottesville. The mall is located east about one and a half miles from the University of Virginia for easy access to the students to go and enjoy the mall. In 1974, the mall was changed from a street with cars driving on it to a brick pedestrian walking mall. In 2009, there was a renovation on the mall where they replaced the brick. Some restaurants and stores found this renovation helpful for business others didn't see a difference.
   The mall has done a nice job with the different buildings and housing. All the malls and retail stores are on the bottom or floor level on the mall, the housing and few restaurants are on the top levels of the buildings. This was a good idea of the architects because it keeps the differences of on the mall separate.  It also helps with customers because the doors to the stores are all on ground level so there is no need to have to walk up any stairs to get to the store.

 N.P., Ed Sykes. NBC29.com. Sep 03, 2012 Web. May 30, 2013.



Unknown. Historic Downtown Charlottesville Pedestrian Mall. June, 2009. Trip Advisor.com