Carytown, Richmond, Virginia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Carytown is an urban retail district lining Cary Street at the southern end of the Museum District in Richmond, Virginia. The district includes over 250 [citation needed] shops, restaurants, and offices. Located near The Fan District, the district is known for[citation needed] having a bohemian flair. The area has become a center for high-end, independent retail shops and boutiques, and is also home to one of the city's beloved institutions, the Byrd Theatre, a restored movie palace that has operated continuously since 1928 and shows second-run films for a $1.99 ticket price. Carytown is also home to the annual Carytown Watermelon Festival, which is the biggest in the United States.[citation needed]

Some Carytown shops are open seven days a week, but most[citation needed] are opened from 10:00 am to 6:00pm Monday through Saturday.

History

Many of the shops in Carytown are located in historical buildings.

The Cary Street Park and Shop Center was built in the 1930s and opened for business in 1938.[1] It was Richmond's first strip shopping center and took hold [citation needed] of the people of Central Virginia very quickly. This group of stores was especially popular due to the "park and shop" nature it had. As more shops developed on the surrounding property, the entire area became bustling with customers and even tourists. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources gives recognition to the Cary Court shopping district for its major influence in Virginia's commercial development in the Twentieth Century.[citation needed] This gives Carytown an older feel to it [citation needed], and it also shows preservation of history. The buildings are in constant need of repair and restoration, after decades of damaging time.

Events

Month long sale events take place in different stores in Carytown throughout the year. Certain seasons bring annual sales or festivals. Other events are monthly such as the Knit Night at the Yarn Lounge! from 6:00 to 8:30 on the last Tuesday of every month. As for seasonal sales, Fashion First goes on from February until June on every first Thursday of the month. Alongside Fashion First there is a Reggae and Ska event on those same Thursdays at night. Other events are listed below. One is the Virginia Commonwealth University French film festival.

May

Carytown 10k Run/Walk

August

Watermelon Festival
This is the event Carytown is most known for. It is a big deal for not only those in Richmond but also for those in the surrounding counties or areas of Virginia. In 2012 Carytown will have its 29th Watermelon Festival.

October

Wine Festival

December

New Year's Eve Event
In 2006, 2007 and 2008, the merchants association held a New Year's event, much like Times Square in New York, except a ball would rise from the Byrd Theatre, as opposed to falling. In 2009, the association decided it was too expensive to continue for a fourth year.[2]

References

External links

Coordinates: 37°33′7.3″N 77°28′48.8″W / 37.552028°N 77.480222°W / 37.552028; -77.480222

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.