Richmond & Jacksonville: More In Common Than You Think

Urban Warehouse Districts


Tobacco Row in Shockoe Bottom

During the late and early 20th century, warehouse districts were a critical economic anchor of major city downtowns across the country.  In Jacksonville, industrial districts included Railroad Row in LaVilla and the Bay Street riverfront. Today, not much is left due to urban renewal.

Separated by an elevated Interstate 95, Shockoe Slip and Shockoe Bottom may be the crown jewels of downtown Richmond's renaissance. Shortly after the founding of Richmond, this area grew to become the epicenter of Richmond's tobacco and slave trade.

The name "slip" refers to canal boat slips where goods were once loaded and unloaded in downtown Richmond.  Shockoe Slip originally developed as a collection of tobacco warehouses and related industries.  Today, Shockoe Slip has become a commercial and entertainment district. Located just west of I-95, Shockoe Bottom is home to the Main Street Station, the 17th Street Farmers' Market and Tobacco Row.

In the last two decades, it has become a major nightlife, dining, and entertainment district. Combined, today Shockoe Slip and Shockoe Bottom are easily one of the South's premier revitalized urban warehouse districts.

According to a recent report by the International Downtown Association, there are 49,702 residents living within a one mile radius of downtown Richmond. That's nearly 25,000 more than what surrounds downtown Jacksonville.  The adaptive reuse of existing building stock in districts like Shockoe Slip and Shockoe Bottom are major reasons for this population discrepancy between these two central business districts.



Main Street Station originally opened in 1901 and closed in 1975 due to a decline in passenger rail service. Rail passenger service returned in 2003 with the reopening of the landmark train station.



The site of the 17th Street Farmers' Market has been a public gathering place since 1737, and is one of America's oldest public markets. The open-air structure that is there today was built in the mid 1980's.






Tobacco Row developed as a collection of tobacco warehouses and cigarette factories along the James River during the 19th century. After the industry vacated the row in the late 1980s, local developer William H. Abeloff jumped started an adaptive reuse trend of warehouse conversions into lofts, apartments, condominiums, offices and retail space.




The Virginia Holocaust Museum was founded by Al Rosenbaum, Jay M. Ipson and Mark Fetter in 1997.


The Southland Wine Company Lofts includes 15 contemporary studio apartments and a striking facade mural by local Richmond artist Ed Trask.




The River Lofts at Tobacco Row are housed in century old warehouses once occupied by the American Cigar company and Consolidated-Carolina's tobacco manufacturing operations.
















Shockoe Slip


Shockoe Slip


Shockoe Slip