The Tour (Part Four)
The third week of the Southern Gentleman Tour took me and Traveller from Texas all the way to the Atlantic, with plenty of road time, overnight drives, and fresh perspectives on urban development along the way.
We started in Houston—Texas’ largest city and a strong model for downtown-centric development. My first stop was Bayou Place, a Cordish-developed indoor entertainment hub in the heart of downtown. While it didn’t rival the open-air vibe of Kansas City’s Power & Light District, it still offered a glimpse into how repurposing urban space can revitalize a city’s core.
Houston’s Midtown was another highlight. It reminded me of what the Boulevard in Richmond could be—a walkable, mixed-use district with apartments above restaurants and retail. One unexpected gem? A “Pedal Party” group rolled up while I was DJing, complete with onboard taps and riders hopping from bar to bar by bike. Imagine something like that rolling through Richmond’s Fan or Scott’s Addition during the World Cycling Championship? It’s a concept worth exploring, pending our alcohol laws.
Next came New Orleans. Though my time there was short, the French Quarter made a lasting impression. It’s an example of what can happen when you give tourists freedom and regulate behavior rather than access. While I’d never propose turning Shockoe into Bourbon Street, there’s room to create a more vibrant, responsibly managed nightlife zone—maybe a boutique version in a controlled alleyway.
From there, we made an overnight push to Jacksonville, Florida. After crossing three state lines before sunrise, we rolled into town to discover a downtown that had it figured out: walkable bridges, a well-connected light rail and bus system, and a downtown sports complex that ties together an arena and baseball stadium. These are the types of multi-purpose hubs Richmond could benefit from—especially if we redevelop the Coliseum and Diamond areas strategically.
Then came Savannah.
This Southern gem isn’t just charming—it’s strategic. From carriage rides and river cruises to open container laws in designated districts, Savannah knows how to blend hospitality with policy. They wrote their own alcohol ordinance in 1998, allowing the city—not just the state—to define how and where alcohol can be consumed. The result? A thriving tourism economy fueled by local regulation and Southern charm.
So why is a smaller city like Savannah outpacing Richmond in tourism? My takeaway: they’ve made fun a priority—without sacrificing structure. Their streets are walkable, their history is front-and-center, and their alcohol policies are written to encourage controlled freedom, not unnecessary restriction.
What if Richmond followed suit?
We could transform Shockoe into a Historic Entertainment District:
Create an “RVA Live!” block at 18th and Main
Expand the Canal Walk into a vibrant, two-sided corridor of shops, restaurants, and water taxis
Build a proper stadium and arena integrated into the downtown grid
Reinvent the 17th Street Farmers Market to function more like Savannah’s City Market
Establish a River Walk from Rockett’s Landing to Brown’s Island
And yes—pilot an open container zone regulated with to-go cup laws
That vision, paired with smart infrastructure and a more visitor-friendly transportation network, could finally position Richmond as the cultural and tourism powerhouse it deserves to be.
Stay tuned for the final week of #SGT26 and a full recap coming soon.