A 7-block pedestrianised street at the heart of downtown Charlottesville, one of the longest pedestrian malls in the United States. The street runs east to west with restaurants, independent shops, two music venues (the Jefferson and the Paramount), and a public skating rink in winter. Most activity starts in the late afternoon and evening; daytime is quieter. Parking garages are located on either end of the mall.
Downtown Mall
A story
The Downtown Mall is a 7-block pedestrian street that was created in 1976 by closing East Main Street to traffic — one of the longest pedestrian malls in the United States. What sets it apart from similar projects is that it actually worked: independent businesses have stayed, the street stays active in the evenings, and the mix of restaurants, bookshops, music venues, and coffee shops feels genuinely organic rather than curated. The Jefferson Theater (opened 1912) and the restored Paramount Theater both operate here, making the mall a centre for live music and performance as well as a shopping and dining destination.