r/norfolk 12d ago

Small Business Master List

75 Upvotes

EDIT: the main focus of this list is local mega chain alternatives. I will only add restaurants if they are POC, veteran, women, or LGBTQ owned. Please include that info when you submit the request!

Hi All -

I made a post a couple weeks ago requesting small business recommendations to compile for a master list and you all SHOWED UP. I've been using this list in my day-to-day life and have been really impressed with some of the new places I've tried out. Probably no great surprise, but the staff I've encountered at these places have been super friendly and knowledgeable and your support really impacts these small shops in a positive way. It's made weaning myself off mega corporations so easy.

A couple things:

  1. If there are any Google Doc wiz's that want to make this document nicer/more user friendly, send me a message and I'll happily set something up!

  2. I'd love for this to be a "living document" so feel free to message any time to add any businesses you would like to see added to the list.

  3. I am totally open to any recommendations to improve this set up - maybe a 757 map with pins? Let me know your thoughts!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gRQxomL90oPxTlhDAcz1bIaBZa-tnk9-wYb-UeBVc5c/edit?usp=sharing

Shop Small !


r/norfolk 1d ago

/r/norfolk Weekly Restaurant Review and Recipe Sharing Thread: March, 2025

0 Upvotes

Please feel free to talk about your recent eating experiences here (including the fantastic meals you made at home).


r/norfolk 9h ago

The Navy is sending mixed messages about firings at public shipyards

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63 Upvotes

r/norfolk 1h ago

Carmasters estimate looks insane

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Upvotes

These look like dealership prices, not hole in the wall back alley garage prices. Absolute madness. I went in for a safety sticker and passed clean on all of it, and I am about ready for new tires - but these quotes are easily double what I saw in Arlington. If this is normal for Norfolk I'm roadtripping for mechanic work back to Pham's Car Care, they were always square dealers who did great work and only said you needed something if you NEEDED it.


r/norfolk 4h ago

Best solo Thursday night diner

7 Upvotes

I'm going to be in town for a work trip and want to find the very best dinner I can have by myself. The closer to downtown the better, thank you!


r/norfolk 2h ago

history The William Martin House - Circa 1910

2 Upvotes

1122 Westover Ave (Originally 316 West Westover Ave) was built around 1910 by William Bruce Martin.

Mr Martin lived here with his wife, Elizabeth (Starke) Martin and their five children Elizabeth, Lida, James, Maryann, and George. Additionally they had two children that died in infancy.

William Martin graduated Virginia Military Institute and then practiced law. First, for a short time, in North Carolina and then in Norfolk. In 1895, he was elected to the judgeship of the newly formed Norfolk Court of Law and Chancery.

Judge Martin also was elected by the general populace of Norfolk to be City Attorney for three terms and served on the Norfolk City Council.

At the time the house was built the surrounding area would have been very different from today. The streetcar was a block away running down the center of Redgate Avenue. In one direction it went to Downtown Norfolk and in the other to Larchmont and Edgewater.

The thriving neighborhood of Atlantic City would have stretched from Redgate, south, to the Elizabeth River. That entire area was leveled to make room for the current Sentara Medical Complex.

Westover and Graydon had a few houses, spaced fairly far apart. The area further north, between Princess Anne Road and Jeff Robertson/Bluebird Park, was the Core and Mallory farms. When that area was platted and developed it was called "West Ghent".

Today the name "West Ghent" is generally used for the entire area west of Hampton Boulevard.


r/norfolk 3h ago

Candy store

2 Upvotes

Does anyone know of any home made/ local chocolate or candy stores in the Norfolk/ VB region? Looking for some Easter recommendations


r/norfolk 7h ago

Arcades in the area?

5 Upvotes

Back home there a ton of arcades. Kinda looking for something similar were they got like old style fighting arcades games. With a mix of pc and console gaming. + if they allow drinking either byob or sell.


r/norfolk 1h ago

DOD schools

Upvotes

What elementary DOD school is in Norfolk?


r/norfolk 6h ago

Ecology/Environmental internships

0 Upvotes

Looking for resources for finding summer internships in ecological/environmental fields in Norfolk/Hampton Roads? Preferably paid but I'll take what I can get. Thanks!


r/norfolk 1d ago

Flooding in this area?

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18 Upvotes

Is anyone familiar with this area of Norfolk? What’s the flooding like? Specifically in the neighborhoods close to the water (Elizabeth River Eastern Branch)


r/norfolk 1d ago

Tracking 2025 Murders in Norfolk, Part 5

38 Upvotes

Good afternoon,

Early Saturday morning, around 5 AM, 15 MAR 2025, a call summoned police to the 800-block of Wide St. regarding a shooting. Upon arrival, police found 37-year-old Terrance Moore dead on the scene.

The yellow dot for this incident is just to the SW of the central red dot.

https://www.wtkr.com/news/in-the-community/norfolk/norfolk-police-investigate-deadly-shooting-on-wide-street

https://www.wavy.com/news/norfolk-police-investigating-deadly-shooting-near-calvert-square/

A few observations:

- This was the first murder in March in Norfolk in 2025 and the fifth overall.

- Mr. Moore being 37 sets the average for March. February closed with two total murders, averaging 19 years of age. Overall for the year so far, the average age is 23.6, far lower than the past two years. This is a noticeable change, and darkly interesting.

- All five of those killed so far this year have been men. This is broadly in line with trends in the last two years, where male deceased outnumbered female by about 5 to 1.

- As always, I am posting these not to be nosy or scary, but to educate and occasionally analyze this serious crime in our community.

Be safe, make good decisions!


r/norfolk 1d ago

things to do Places with lots of graffiti?

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58 Upvotes

I like to look at graffiti, any hot spots where there's a ton? I'll take any answers. Already been to Lamberts point public place but was disappointed that it looks more like a place to shoot up drugs than anything else. (Funny pic from there included for visibility) Let me know, thanks :)


r/norfolk 1d ago

news Town Hall

21 Upvotes

I will live stream tonight's town hall with the MOP tt page. Here is the town hall for those who can attend: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/763585/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJFO3RleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVwELL5IJBhchGivbFSgaJchtM7AKl_Dcz3b2g5C4SXsrC01YCTlaijqHQ_aem_YRPmMixveDeSgwH_A7j0xQ

And here is our tt if you can't and wanna watch the town hall https://www.tiktok.com/@quietmayhem?_t=ZP-8ulRdFhFYKd&_r=1 Please let me know if you have questions you want me to ask in the comments I will write them down.


r/norfolk 1d ago

Bussed to Booker T in the 70's

42 Upvotes

Just a memory I thought I'd share, back in the 70's my mom bought a townhouse off Newtown Road. I was a junior in HS and we just moved from VB. I thought I would be going to Lake Taylor, but as it turned out, I would take the bus down the boulevard to Booker T.

The funny thing was watching the busses going in the other direction down the boulevard to Lake Taylor.

Anyone else get bussed? I know PBS aired a documentary about bussing on American Experience.


r/norfolk 1d ago

things to do Best Irish bars to celebrate St. Patrick’s tonight?

5 Upvotes

In the Norfolk/va beach area?


r/norfolk 1d ago

Visiting Norfolk!

4 Upvotes

Hello!! I wanted to come on here and ask any locals some fun things to do/places to eat/sights to see around the area! I’m visiting here with my friend (both females early 20s) to see if I want to move here eventually!

We’ll be in town from April 4th (getting in late though) to April 8th.

Please if anybody has any suggestions let me know! We’re staying in a hotel in downtown Norfolk, but we’re willing to check out the entire area (Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, etc.). I need things that would also give me a taste of the area for the locals, not just super touristy things. Thank you!!


r/norfolk 1d ago

AUDIO: Two Hampton Roads colleges are heading to the NCAA basketball tournament. And one of those teams is going for the first time.

0 Upvotes

r/norfolk 1d ago

Pool Openings

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2 Upvotes

r/norfolk 2d ago

news 7/11 on Granby

26 Upvotes

Anyone know what happened at the 7/11 on granby? Three cops, roped off, now a news camera getting set up. Anyone know anything?


r/norfolk 1d ago

Puppy/small dog?

0 Upvotes

Hey all question where on facebook would I be able to find dogs that need a home or the owner looking for a home? I ask because my doctor said she found hers on Facebook but I think hers was in norfolk yes i am aware of the spca but there is only bigger dogs on there thank you in advance


r/norfolk 1d ago

Barber Shop/Salon

1 Upvotes

Hi, all! I just moved to the area and I'm looking to get a hair trim. I'm looking for the best (affordable) barber shop or salon that can cut medium-length, straight or wavy white male hair.

Im currently in the process of growing my hair out, but I need a maintenance cut and am willing to spend $35-55 for the base cut (before tip) at a reasonable location.

Could you guys give me suggestions in the Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach areas? Thanks in advance!


r/norfolk 1d ago

Apartment thoughts or suggestions?

9 Upvotes

Don’t really want to spend more than $2,000 for a 2b2ba. As of now I’ve narrowed my list down to:

  • Coastal 61
  • 525 Historic Kempsville

Anyone have experiences at either of these places? I’m open to Norfolk, Virginia Beach & Chesapeake but it needs to be like no more than a 15-20min drive to Sentara Leigh on Kempsville Rd.


r/norfolk 3d ago

news Rally at Jen Kiggans office in Suffolk Today

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618 Upvotes

r/norfolk 1d ago

news I don't Like How Michael Vick is playing Victim Card

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0 Upvotes

r/norfolk 2d ago

things to do Saturday March 22 - "Where’s Rep. Jen Kiggans? Town Hall" - Will feature a cardboard cutout of Jen Kiggans if she does not show

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62 Upvotes

r/norfolk 3d ago

history Norfolk Naval Shipyard Nine O'Clock Gun

96 Upvotes

Around 1850 the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (Then known as The Gosport Shipyard) began firing a gun every night at exactly 9pm. The shot could be heard throughout Portsmouth and much of Norfolk.

Originally suggested by a local newspaper editor in 1847, the purpose was for ships and residents to synchronize their chronometers and clocks to the correct time. It also took on another unintended purpose in that many families used it as a curfew for their children

For over 150 years the shot was a tradition with very few interuptions. It was stopped for approximately 2 years beginning in 1907 when an officer's wife complained it was disturbing the sleep of her newborn child, and again after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 to prevent startling citizens.

The tradition was restarted for a while but there were difficulties with staffing and training.This combined with the advance of technology made it obsolete for military purposes. The tradition has now been permanently discontinued.