Granby Street in Norfolk's NEON District looks different than it did a decade ago, when the stretch earned a reputation as a creative hub in the late 2010s. Construction cones, torn-up pavement and missing parking spots now line the corridor, and several longtime businesses have closed or moved out entirely as the area works through a multi-year streetscape overhaul.
The city and the Economic Development Authority approved $265,000 in grants of up to $10,000 each for businesses in the 700 and 800 blocks of Granby Street affected by the construction, according to The Virginian-Pilot. The money can go toward rent, utilities and tax expenses, though applicants must show proof of revenue loss tied to the project. The Norfolk Department of Economic Development has also offered separate $10,000 grants to construction-affected businesses.
The disruption traces back to a streetscape project that began in summer 2025, tearing up roads and removing on-street parking along Granby Street. The project is meant to replace aging water, sewer and stormwater drainage systems while installing new sidewalks, roads, greenspace, sitting areas, street lighting and electric vehicle charging stations. The work was delayed roughly a year because of a utility conflict, with a connection moved from Brambleton Avenue to the Monticello Avenue area.
A Timeline Still in Dispute
Just how long the construction will drag on depends on which account you trust. The Virginian-Pilot reported the completion date slipped from winter 2027 to winter 2028 because of utility work issues, while a city FAQ page points to an anticipated completion in summer 2028. Separately, infrastructure work specifically is expected to finish by summer 2027, even as the broader streetscape project is slated to wrap in summer 2028.
The slowdown has taken a visible toll. La Brioche, a French bakery, left the district for Ghent in 2024, and the Norfolk location of Commune closed in April 2025 before later becoming an event venue, per the same Pilot account. Cardinal Skate Shop closed its Norfolk store on April 25, 2026, after nearly 20 years in Hampton Roads; the closure was linked to a prolonged city development project, the paper reported.
A Redevelopment Deal That Never Materialized
That failed deal dates back to a Tidewater Community College culinary program planned for the former Greyhound station site, which fell apart in 2020 after a major donor pulled funding. The city later opened the former Greyhound station parking lot to provide additional parking for the district, and a 220-unit apartment project is now planned for the site, though it remains in early stages according to developer the Breeden Co.
Several shootings in 2022 prompted the city to crack down on nearby clubs.
New Programming Tries to Fill the Gap
Against that backdrop, the Downtown Norfolk Council and arts partners are leaning on events to draw people back. The d'Art Center received a $75,000 grant from the city to organize more than a dozen art-themed events throughout 2026, hoping to attract about 4,000 people, according to WAVY. The station reported that foot traffic has fallen over the last several years because of both the pandemic, which reduced in-person events, and the streetscape project that has closed off parts of Granby Street and its sidewalks.
As WTKR has reported, traffic detours and orange construction cones have made the area confusing for drivers and unwelcoming to pedestrians. In response, the d'Art Center is organizing free programming including a market, art events, a movie night and a scavenger hunt. The station also noted Norfolk's City Council was scheduled to vote on a budget funding $60,000 in NEON District programming for fiscal year 2027.
The district's annual arts festival has itself been reimagined. The longtime NEON Festival is being replaced by NEON Nights, a yearlong series of smaller events rather than a single annual gathering, according to NEON Nights' own announcement. The inaugural event is set for Friday, October 16, with most art installations, performances and creative activations taking place inside participating storefronts, galleries and venues rather than outdoors. Commonwealth Tattoo is planning a free punch-and-pie event that night featuring more than 35 local artists, and Push Comedy Theater will host a Dragon Faire on November 14 and 15.
A Norfolk Arts District
The NEON District is a creative district in Norfolk.
Businesses continue to face challenges as construction disrupts the district, while grants and events aim to support them.
A Nearby Comparison
Virginia Beach's ViBe Creative District offers another point of comparison with Norfolk's NEON District.
Whether Norfolk's combination of construction-relief grants, a reshaped events calendar and new parking options will be enough to reverse the district's recent slide remains to be seen. For now, stakeholders are betting that smaller, more frequent programming — paired with direct financial support for storefronts — can keep the NEON District's creative identity intact while the streetscape work finishes out.
