The Tour (Part Five)
The final week of #SGT26 was a short and sweet drive back home for me and Traveller. With just two final stops—Charleston and Wilmington—we closed the tour in the most fitting way possible: with an incredible night at the Capital Ale House Music Hall in Richmond. Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity. You made the finale unforgettable.
Charleston and Wilmington both echoed the charm of Savannah’s River Street, with vibrant riverfront districts full of nightlife and historic character—East Bay Street in Charleston and Front Street in Wilmington. Both were beautiful, welcoming, and packed with potential inspiration for Richmond’s own growth.
Now, for those who’ve followed along this journey over the past month, you know I’ve visited 11 cities with the lens of discovery and comparison. So let’s take a step back and look at what I’ve learned—and how we can bring that vision home to Richmond.
Week One: Live! District Inspiration from Louisville & Kansas City
I began in two cities that exemplify how to design dynamic, mixed-use entertainment districts: Louisville and Kansas City. Both feature the Cordish Company’s signature “Live!” concept—open-air bar and restaurant complexes centered around a courtyard-style plaza.
My vision? Use a similar approach to revitalize the four-block intersection around 18th and Main in Richmond’s Historic Shockoe Valley:
West of 18th: A reimagined “RVA Live!” courtyard, with Walnut Alley extended from 17th to 19th Street.
North side: Dual-level dining and bars with pedestrian bridges over Main Street.
South side: A rooftop-park-topped parking deck, inspired by Kansas City’s model.
East side: A large-format retail space, possibly with a rooftop pool.
Connect it all with restaurants and retail along Main Street, creating a vibrant pedestrian corridor that mirrors the success of Charleston’s and Wilmington’s entertainment districts.
Week Two: Canal & River Walk Lessons from OKC & San Antonio
In Oklahoma City and San Antonio, the canals are the heartbeat of downtown—lined with restaurants, hotels, and nightlife, drawing locals and tourists alike well into the evening hours.
Compare that to Richmond’s Canal Walk, which is currently underutilized and inactive past 7 p.m. There’s no reason our Canal Walk couldn’t thrive in the same way—stretching from the floodwall at 17th Street to 12th Street, and surrounded by vibrant venues on both sides. With proper investment and vision, this could become one of our city's defining features.
Week Three: Energy from New Orleans, Jacksonville & Savannah
Each of these cities offered a different flavor of inspiration:
New Orleans: While we may not need Bourbon Street’s chaos, Walnut Alley could become a charming version of it—complete with second-story balconies and a French Quarter aesthetic.
Jacksonville: The River Walk concept stood out. Richmond deserves a similar path, connecting Rocketts Landing to Brown’s Island via Chapel Island, with tie-ins to the Canal Walk. Let’s build a full riverfront loop.
Savannah: Their City Market is a brilliant example of pedestrian-first design. We should reimagine Richmond’s 17th Street Farmers Market with al fresco dining, open-air events, and seamless integration into Shockoe’s festival scene.
From Main Street Station becoming a future transportation hub to the idea of a multi-use stadium and arena complex connected by light rail and BRT, these cities showed what’s possible when planning meets purpose.
Week Four: Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead
As I brought the tour back home through Charleston and Wilmington, the parallels with River Street in Savannah were unmistakable. Richmond is primed for this kind of energy, and it starts with prioritizing pedestrian access, nightlife, and public spaces along the James River.
And let’s talk ABC ordinances. Kansas City, San Antonio, and Savannah all have progressive alcohol laws that empower municipalities while encouraging vibrant, well-regulated entertainment districts. Their tourism industries thrive, with packed hotels, bustling restaurants, carriage rides, trolley tours, and thriving public markets.
Here’s the honest truth: every riverfront city I visited had well-lit, paved, accessible riverwalks directly connected to their downtown entertainment districts. In Richmond, trying to go for a run along the James without hitting multiple obstacles is nearly impossible. That shouldn’t be the case—not in a city as active and culture-rich as ours.
What’s Next
In the weeks and months ahead, I plan to connect with city officials and civic leaders to advocate for these changes. The potential is real—and it’s time we position Historic Shockoe Valley as the tourism centerpiece Richmond deserves.
Let’s take the best ideas from across the South and elevate our own city to meet them.
Thanks for reading—and here’s to what’s next for Richmond.