Why You Should Visit Shockoe Bottom (Richmond, VA)

Going to Richmond, Virginia? Shockoe Bottom is a vibrant, developing neighborhood on the east side of the city, adjacent to the James River. The Bottom was first laid out in 1737, as the city was just getting started, and derives its name from the creek that bordered the west side of Richmond in the mid-18th century.

The history of Shockoe Bottom is fascinating and critical to the history of the city of Richmond, the state of Virginia, and the United States of America. Prior to 1807, the Shockoe Bottom area served as a debarkation point for captured slave cargo being transported from Africa to the New World. After 1807, the Bottom became a port of embarkation for slaves being sent to the Deep South as labor for the many plantation owners driving the agrarian economy. With the number of slave transactions estimated to be in the high tens of thousands, Shockoe Bottom was one of the most important slave trading centers in the United States.

Today, Shockoe Bottom is one of Richmond’s trendiest and most progressive neighborhoods. In recent years the Bottom has been subjected to intense professional and retail development that has made the neighborhood a venue for some of Richmond’s best shopping, restaurants and nightclubs.

Visitors to the Bottom who are looking for something a little different can dine at Havana ’59, a Cuban-style restaurant with an amazing selection of delicious foods. Other favorite Bottom restaurants include Mc Cormack’s Irish Pub and the River City Diner. No matter what your taste, the Bottom is sure to offer a dining experience that will most certainly please your palate.

The Bottom also offers a multitude of specialty stores and retail shops, making it a great destination for all of your shopping needs. The nearby Market at Tobacco Row features 34,000 square feet of shopping space, covering everything from the latest fashions to necessary grocery items.