About the Downtown Mall
Since 1974, the Charlottesville Downtown Mall serves as the epicenter of a historic experience within a thriving city center. Locals and tourists alike enjoy the limitless possibilities of restaurants and shops. Beneath sturdy pin oaks, live theater, music and cinema thrive on the pedestrian strip.. Because Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe once walked these eight blocks, now brick and tree-lined, the Historic Downtown Mall offers a timeless experience.
Shopping on the Mall
Looking for an urban center amongst small-town Charlottesville establishments? The Downtown Mall provides many trendy destinations, including a half-dozen art galleries, nightclubs, and multiple venues for live music. With chic clothing stores, such as Bittersweet or J. Fenton Too, or Agents in Style, the Downtown Mall can incite the passions of any fashionista. Looking for a gift for that special someone? Consider Fair Trade Ten Thousand Villages or Charlottesville’s beloved jeweler, Tuel’s, where you’ll be warmly greeted daily our unofficial mayor Mary Loose DeViney, Don’t miss the artistic jewelry stores of Angelo’s or Jeweler’s Eye where you will certainly make once-in-a-lifetime finds. How about books? One of America’s finest independent book stores, New Dominion Books, as well as the splendid used-books shop 2nd Act, are sure to match your curiosity. Want to sate your funny bone? Telegraph Comics is not to be missed! All together, a day or shopping combined with a day of touring on the Downtown Mall is an unforgettable experience.
Dining on the Mall
For hungry visitors, the shopping strip, coined the “Community Living Room,” also has over thirty restaurants. Eateries, such as Sal’s Caffe Italia & Pizza, or Red Pump Kitchen or Maru, offer a variety of delicious and casual meals for lunch and dinner.
With art walks, history walks, ghost tours, a historic movie theatre, and a Saturday farmer’s market, the Downtown Mall is sure to provide something for everyone. In an age of Amazon, the Downtown Mall proudly offers a wide selection of almost entirely locally-owned shops the old-fashioned way. Stop by for a diverse and entertaining weekend pitstop or night out in Charlottesville.
Parking Garages
Water Street Parking Garage: open until Midnight Monday thru Wednesday, until 1am Thursday thru Saturday, and until 10pm on Sunday. $2 an hour.
Market Street Parking Garage: open until Midnight Monday thru Wednesday, until 1am Thursday thru Saturday, and until 10pm on Sunday. $2 an hour.
Omni Hotel: $1.50 an hour.
Parking Lots
Water Street Lot: open until Midnight Monday thru Wednesday, until 1am Thursday thru Saturday, and until 10pm on Sunday. $2.50 an hour.
Citizens Commonwealth Center: $5 for the evening.
218 West Market Street: $5 for the evening.
Charlottesville City Water Street Lot: metered parking during the day, but free at night.
FREE on-street parking for two hours.
Southside
East Water Street: 50 unrestricted spots.
300 Block of Avon Street:17 unrestricted spaces.
Levy Avenue:13 unrestricted spaces.
End of 6th Street SE:10 unrestricted spots.
6th Street SE between Monticello Avenue and Garret Street: 68 unrestricted spaces.
Garrett Street: 80 unrestricted spots scattered on both sides of the street.
Gleason Street: 17 unrestricted spots.
Monticello Avenue: 100 unrestricted parking spots.
West South Street: 6 unrestricted spots.
Northside
High Street: 37 unrestricted parking spaces scattered up and down the street.
2nd Street NW
Between McGuffey Park & McGuffey Art Center: 10 spots
West Market Street
1st Street North
Up and down Jefferson Street: 56 spots from down near McGuffey Park to Court Square, both sides of the street.
5th Street NE: 10 spots.
4th Street NE: 23 spots from Mall to High Street
3rd Street NE: 12 spots from Mall to High Street
2nd Street NE: 7 spots from Mall to High Street
8th Street NE & Jefferson Street: 20 spots
7th Street NE: 12 spots
NOTE: Monday through Friday until 6pm, there’s a 2-hour limit for many on-street parking spaces. After hours and on the weekend, these spaces are unrestricted.