History of the Charlottesville Downtown Mall

Historically speaking, the downtown mall was the central business district of Charlottesville.  Back then, it was called main street and was not originally a pedestrian mall like it is today.  When other shopping centers, like Barracks Road, were built the stores on main street began to lose business. In 1959, converting main street to a pedestrian mall was first proposed. In 1974, construction began. The idea was to make main street into a car-free, pedestrian friendly shopping area. Since the beginning of the mall, many new boutiques and restaurants have opened. Some businesses actually remain from before the conversion! One of these businesses is Timberlake's Drug Store and Soda Fountain. 

making main street into a pedestrian mall-1975

Timberlakes

(before)

(after)