Retail vacancies down slightly in Charlottesville

Charlottesville’s Office of Economic Development keeps track of six shopping areas across the city and a regularly produced report has found fewer vacancies on the Downtown Mall and Seminole Square since last July, but statistically more at Barracks Road, the Corner, and McIntire Plaza. (review the report)

The scope of the study includes 149 storefronts on the Downtown Mall and its side streets, and there are now six vacancies, down from eleven in the July report. That includes a planned renovation of 400 East Main Street to house a branch of the Virginia Credit Union and 422 West Main Street to be a place called Quisine. (this paragraph was updated on May 4, 2024)

New stores that have opened since July include Bonney and Read at 107-111 East Main Street, The Beautiful Idea at 411 East Main Street, The Wich Lab at 224 West Main Street, and The Botanique and Company at 112 2nd Street NE. 

The report does not cover the Blue Ridge Country Store at 518 East Main Street which is now closed.

Vacancies are defined as spaces where nothing is currently planned such as the former Fellini’s space at 200 West Market Street, the former Draft Taproom at 425 East Main Street, and 310 East Main Street where Vita Nova used to be. The latter will soon be purchased and redeveloped by the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority. 

There are 84 stores in the Barracks Road Shopping Center which went from six vacancies to seven vacancies. These include the now vacant spaces where Rebecca’s Natural Food, SimplyMac, Mahana Fresh, and Bed, Bath, and Beyond used to be. New businesses planned include Bath & Body Works, Playa Bowls, and an expansion of Phenix Salon Suites. 

There is one vacancy at McIntire Plaza now that RCRC Cryotherapy / Chill Cville has closed, but the other 44 storefronts are occupied. 

The number of storefronts in Seminole Square has been reduced to 45 due to the Great Eastern Management Company’s plans to convert a portion to apartments.  The site plan conference was held in March 2022. New tenants include Mystics and Minerals, Physician Engineered Products, and Super Bit Video Games Cville. 

There’s one additional vacancy on the Corner which the Office of Economic Development regards as having 61 storefronts. Two new stores are the return of Littlejohn’s at 1427 University Avenue and Raising Cane’s. The three vacancies are 104 14th Street NW, 9 Elliewood Avenue, and 11 Elliewood Avenue. 

Preston Plaza remained fully leased with ten businesses there. 

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