Village District (formerly Cameron Village), was the first planned community to be developed in Raleigh, North Carolina. Development was started in 1947 when J.W. York and R.A Bryan bought 158 acres (64 ha) of undeveloped land two miles west of downtown Raleigh, near the North Carolina State University campus. The “village” was to consist of a shopping center, apartments, and single-family homes. The area was renamed Village District in 2021 to distance itself from the slave-owning Cameron plantation it was originally named after. When Village District was built, it was one of the first shopping and residential communities of its kind. And it has continued to maintain a progressive mindset for almost seven decades. The village continually reinvents itself to stay modern and relevant in a changing world. By preserving old favorites while remaining open to fresh ventures, Village District will continue to lead Raleigh into the future. Village District has been a favorite neighborhood destination for shoppers and diners since 1949. It is a place where generations have grown up and come of age. Where haircuts with mom turn into grocery trips with college roommates. Where shopping for first work outfits turns into shopping for wedding gowns. Where Village events bring families together year after year. A1 Bed Bug Exterminator Raleigh
The shopping center opened in 1949, as Cameron Village, and quickly became the premier shopping area in Raleigh. It is also considered the first shopping center to be built between Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. The shopping center is an open-air shopping mall, but unlike a strip mall, the stores are divided into blocks with some on two levels. Several parking decks were built in the 1960s, although most of these were removed in later renovations, to give a more open feel. Cameron Village grew quickly, and by 1950 the community had 65 stores, a movie theater, more than 600 homes and apartments, and over 100 business/professional offices. Downtown Raleigh, which had been the primary shopping location in the Raleigh area, started to see a decline in business as consumers gravitated toward the convenient parking of Cameron Village. The Occidental Life Insurance Company Building was added to Cameron Village in 1956. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
Restaurants and Pubs
- La Carreta Mexican Restaurants is located at 1028 Oberlin Rd, Raleigh, NC
- Community Deli is located at 901 Oberlin Rd, Raleigh, NC
- Cornerstone Tavern is located at 603 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC
- The London Bridge Pub is located at 110 E Hargett St, Raleigh, NC
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