Downtown New Haven facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Downtown New Haven
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Neighborhood of New Haven
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Office buildings visible from the New Haven Green
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Downtown within New Haven
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| Country | United States |
| State | Connecticut |
| City | New Haven |
Downtown New Haven is a busy neighborhood right in the middle of New Haven, Connecticut. It was planned way back in 1638 with nine main squares, including the famous New Haven Green. Today, it's a mix of shops, offices, and a big part of Yale University.
You'll find lots of cool restaurants, cafes, theaters, and shops here. Downtown New Haven is surrounded by other neighborhoods like Wooster Square and East Rock. It's one of the most residential downtown areas in the United States, with almost 7,000 people living there. More housing has helped local businesses grow and made the area more lively.
Contents
Exploring Downtown New Haven
Downtown New Haven is split into different areas. These areas are built around the New Haven Green, just like the city was planned in 1638. The main campus of Yale University is also a big part of Downtown.
Chapel Street: Shops and History
The area around Chapel and Crown Streets is a popular spot. It has many restaurants, unique shops, and cafes. It's right across from the Old Campus of Yale University. You can find historic places like the Union League Cafe here. The Owl Shop, a cigar lounge, has been around since c. 1934.
This area is part of the Chapel Street Historic District. Important buildings include the Hotel Taft and the Chapel Square Mall. The Yale University Art Gallery and Yale Center for British Art are also located here.
Broadway: The Shops at Yale
The Broadway area is a shopping hub. Since the 1990s, Yale University has bought and developed many buildings here. It's now known as The Shops at Yale. This area used to be home to the Yankee Doodle Coffee Shop and Cutlers Records.
Ninth Square: Arts and Nightlife
The Ninth Square district is southeast of the New Haven Green. It has become a lively area for nightlife and arts since the early 2000s. Most buildings in this area are protected as part of the Ninth Square Historic District.
Whitney Avenue: Yale and East Asian Culture
The Whitney Avenue area is north of the New Haven Green. It has shops and eateries mostly owned by Yale University. These places often serve the university's students. This area is also a center for New Haven's East Asian community. You'll find several restaurants and grocery stores that cater to this group. An annual Chinese New Year festival even parades up Whitney Avenue!
Cool Places to Visit
Downtown New Haven has many interesting spots:
- Center Church on the Green Crypt: This is a very old burial ground. It's special because it's underneath a church. You can see gravestones from the mid-1600s!
- Chapel Street Historic District: A historic area with many shops, restaurants, and museums.
- Criterion Cinemas: A movie theater that shows new and international films.
- Grove Street Cemetery: A historic cemetery.
- Harkness Tower: A famous tower at Yale University.
- Knights of Columbus Building: A tall, unique building.
- Louis' Lunch: This place is famous for being the oldest hamburger restaurant still open in the U.S.
- New Haven City Hall: The city's government building.
- New Haven County Courthouse: Where court cases are held.
- New Haven Free Public Library: A great place to find books.
- New Haven Green: The large, historic park in the center of downtown.
- Ninth Square Historic District: A historic area with old commercial buildings.
- Omni Hotel: A fancy hotel.
- Shubert Theatre: A historic theater that hosts many shows.
- Toad's Place: A popular music venue.
- Yale Center for British Art: An art museum focusing on British art.
- Yale Repertory Theatre: A theater known for its plays.
- Yale University Art Gallery: Another art museum at Yale.
- Yale University's Old Campus: A historic part of Yale University.
Past Landmarks
Some notable places in Downtown New Haven have changed over time:
- Chapel Square Mall (1967–2002): This was an indoor shopping mall. It was later turned into luxury apartments.
- The Edw. Malley Co. (1852–1982): This department store was torn down in 1997. Gateway Community College is now in its place.
- Macy's: This department store was torn down in 2007. Gateway Community College is also built on this site.
- New Haven Coliseum (1972–2007): This large arena was torn down. Now it's a parking lot.
- Shartenberg's Department Store (1915–1962): This store was torn down in 1964. Today, a tall building called 360 State Street stands there. It has homes, offices, and apartments.
