As a child, I have fond memories of spending Saturday or Sunday afternoons coming from Newport News to Norfolk to go to Waterside. It was a great place for family and friends to gather and enjoy good food and good times. As I got older, and moved to Norfolk as an adult, I noticed how Waterside took a turn. News report after news report of bad happenings at Waterside came out, and it was no longer the place to go. So when I started noticing construction taking place, I did some digging and discovered the good news that the new Waterside District was coming to bring that old thing back.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Waterside District President Glenn Sutch to talk to him about what we can expect from the new Waterside, and why he’s excited about the project. What he shared made us even more excited, and here’s 3 reasons why.
#1 – Welcoming Atmosphere. What Glenn continued to bring to the forefront during our interview was the welcoming atmosphere that Waterside District will bring to the area. Bring friends and families together in one place is very important to him, and he knows that this new space will accomplish that. Young and old, singles and couples, there will be something for all ages at Waterside. It will also be a place to go for local businesses and those who work in the area.
#2 – Various Restaurants. When Glenn started sharing the list of restaurants that will be at Waterside District, I got really excited about the variety of options. Whether you want something quick and inexpensive, or an upscale, fine dining experience, there will be something for you. Then there’s The Market at the heart of Waterside District (depicted above), feature a variety of unique food and beverage choices and be the main stage for entertainment, festivals and family attractions.
Here’s a list of the restaurants currently slated to be featured at the Waterside District:
- Guy Fieri’s Smokehouse
- Cogan’s Pizza
- The Fudgery
- Carolina Cupcakery
- Starr Hill Brewery
- Blue Moon TapHouse
- Rappahannock Oyster Co
- Harbor Club
- Luk Fu
#3 – Events & Entertainment. Private events like weddings and conferences will have a home at Waterside District, along with community events live concerts and festivals. Glenn was very excited about bringing new and upcoming artists and performers to the area to showcase their talents at Waterside. I tried to get a sneak peak at who he had in mind, but he was a tough cookie and wouldn’t reveal anything. But he assured me that we would not be disappointed. The Market will also be outfitted with large screens tvs as well, making it a place to go for watch the top sporting events and rooting on your fav.
Waterside District is not only bringing the best of food and entertainment to the area, but also an economic boost to Norfolk. Over 1,000 jobs are being created as a result of the new Waterside District. We are looking forward to late April 2017 when Waterside District opens! Stay tuned to Naturally Glam for more updates on what Waterside has to offer, as well as restaurant reviews as well.
Hi, I’m Jonna. Welcome to naturally-glam.com where I share how I balance my life as a mother, wife, and influencer.
I will definitely check this out the next time I am in town. So many memories of this place growing up. Thanks for the info!
That looks like it would be a fun place to hang out. It sort of reminds me of the Universal Studios City Walk in L.A. It should be all the fond memories back for you.
When I heard that The Fudgery was coming back I felt like a kid again! I cant wait to try out some of the other places!
This place sounds amazing! I would be excited too… I could see many family fun days and awesome date nights at a place like the Waterside District.
Sounds cool. We have family who I think are right outside of Norfolk. Maybe we’ll check it out next time we visit.
I love places on the water. This place is near my mom’s house so I will be sharing this with her and go check it out.
This sounds like the new place to be. I would love to checkout Guy Fieri’s Smokehouse.
This sounds like it would be a lovely place to visit. It’s always nice visiting areas near waterfronts.
This looks looks amazing. I love visiting new cities and learning new things about them
Oh wow!! That looks so nice! It will be perfect for date night or just a family day out!
It’s always great to see a city revitalize an area like this where people can come together to have a nice time. The list of restaurants alone sounds like it will be a major draw to that location.
aw I love that your city is getting a revamping. Neverbeen to VA in my life but now I definitely gotta visit the Waterside District when I go! It reminds me of our Atlantic Station or our new Ponce City Market!
Nice. I have never traveled to Virginia before. Your imagery is enticing and makes me want to travel there just on some spontaneous, random type of thing.
I wish my city could get a revamp and get some additional stuff that we don’t already have. Waterside district seem like a quiet and beautiful place to go for a chill or family time.