Waterside (Norfolk, Virginia) facts for kids
The Waterside is a lively spot located in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. It sits right on the beautiful Elizabeth River. This special place first opened its doors on June 1, 1983. It was designed as a "festival marketplace," which means it's a fun area with restaurants, shops, and entertainment.
The Waterside is an important part of Norfolk's plan to make its downtown area exciting again. It's connected by a walking bridge to a parking garage. You can also easily reach it from the Portsmouth Ferry terminal. Plus, a walkway along the river connects it to other cool places nearby. These include the Harbor Park baseball stadium, the Nauticus naval museum, and the Freemason Harbor neighborhood.
What is a Festival Marketplace?
Back in the late 1970s, a mall developer named James W. Rouse had a great idea. He wanted to create "festival marketplaces" like The Waterside. His goal was to help bring life back to city downtowns that were struggling. These marketplaces were meant to be a key step in helping cities grow and develop more.
The idea behind a festival marketplace was to mix different things together. They often included big restaurants, unique specialty shops, and areas with lots of food choices called food courts. They also offered fun activities for the evening, known as nightlife.
How The Waterside Has Changed
Just like other shopping centers and malls, The Waterside has changed a lot over the years. It has gone through many different business periods. When it first opened, The Waterside mostly had restaurants on its first floor, like The Baitshack. There were also small shops with a nautical (ocean-themed) feel and an arcade for games.
The second floor had a balcony and featured more unique stores and small stands called kiosks. In the 1980s, another part was added to the complex. However, by the mid-1990s, business started to slow down. Things got better when the MacArthur Center mall opened nearby. In the early 2000s, the upstairs shops were replaced by entertainment places, such as the Jillian's arcade.
The Waterside Today
In 1999, the City of Norfolk's housing authority bought The Waterside. This was meant to be a temporary solution at the time.
Later, in August 2015, the City of Norfolk and The Cordish Companies started building the new Waterside District. This new version was built in the same spot as the old Waterside. It features many new dining and entertainment options. The grand opening of the new Waterside District happened on May 11, 2017. It continues to be a popular place for people to eat, play, and have fun by the river.
