Downtown Mall facts for kids
The Downtown Mall in Charlottesville, Virginia is a super cool place! It's one of the longest pedestrian malls in the United States. This means it's a street made just for walking, not cars!
You can find the Downtown Mall on Main Street. It stretches for eight blocks, from 6th Street N.E. all the way to Water Street. The ground is covered with pretty brick and concrete. You'll discover lots of fun places here, like yummy restaurants, awesome shops, and cool art galleries.
During spring, summer, and fall, the Downtown Mall hosts a weekly concert series called Fridays After 5. Imagine listening to live music outdoors! Some smaller streets nearby are also brick-paved and closed to traffic, making them perfect for exploring.
At one end of the Mall, you'll find the Sprint Pavilion, which is a big outdoor spot for concerts. At the other end, there's an Omni Hotel and even an indoor ice skating rink! It's also home to two famous theaters: the newly updated Paramount Theater and the historic Jefferson Theater.
How the Mall Started
The Downtown Mall wasn't always a pedestrian-only area. Back in 1976, East Main Street was changed into the walking mall we know today. A talented landscape architect named Lawrence Halprin designed it.
Later, in 2007, Charlottesville decided to give the Downtown Mall a big makeover. The construction work started in January 2009 and was finished that summer. This renovation helped make the Mall even better for everyone to enjoy!
