Shadywood East - Norfolk, VA Area Guide

The area known as Shadywood East became part of the city of Norfolk during the Great Annexation of 1923. This expansion tripled the size of Norfolk, and the region’s first airport was established soon after in 1938. The Shadywood East community grew with the airport, experiencing peaks in development during the late 1970s after the dedication of the first international terminal and again in the 1990s when 10 new gates were added. Today, modern apartment communities and newly constructed homes have replaced much of the neighborhood’s early-era real estate to meet the demands of military families.

There are opportunities to explore the rich history of Hampton Roads throughout the region. Museums and art galleries scatter the waterside in downtown Norfolk, while the Virginia Beach coastline showcases centuries of historical landmarks and natural wonders.

From nationally known chain restaurants to mom-and-pop diners and grills, Shadywood East affords many options for residents to satisfy their food cravings without venturing too far from the neighborhood. Norview Center sits within walking distance and offers a Subway, as well as a Golden Corral. Across the street, Franco’s serves authentic Italian dishes, seafood and fresh salads. Locals rave about Franco’s eggplant Parmesan. Less than 0.5 mile past the intersection of Norview Avenue and Military Highway, residents find a small cluster of eateries unique to Norfolk, including the neighborhood’s closest bar and a casual Italian joint, Andy’s Pizza House.

A larger selection of restaurants lies north of Shadywood East along East Little Creek Road. Try the French Toast Delight at Bel Aire Pancake House, topped with generous amounts of fresh bananas, strawberries and whipped cream, or stop by for lunch and have a super colossal Philly cheeseburger with grilled peppers, onions and mushrooms. Ole’ Bay Seafood serves as the destination of choice for fish lovers in the area. Shop for whiting, trout and other seafood favorites in the Ole’ Bay fresh market, then have the kitchen fry it to perfection and serve it with your favorite sides, such as homemade coleslaw and hushpuppies.

In addition to a neighborhood bar and grill on Military Highway, a small collection of pubs and taverns serve the community from Little Creek Road as well. Locals like to visit TNT Sports Tavern to enjoy house-made barbecue and their favorite beers. The area’s only nightclub, the Banque, features a fun country-western atmosphere with a full bar, pool tables and dance lessons. For a livelier party scene, take a short 15- or 20-minute drive to downtown Norfolk or Virginia Beach’s oceanfront to visit the region’s most popular dance clubs, bars and music venues.

Hampton Roads Transit bus route 15 serves the Shadywood East neighborhood. Buses run every 30 minutes during high volume hours and then hourly until about 1 a.m. Residents can also find a ride with Uber or call one of several taxi companies in the area, but most households in the community own at least one car. Shadywood East sits directly off of Interstate 64 at the Norview Avenue interchange, making it easy to get anywhere within the region by car. Residents can walk to a few nearby shops and restaurants, but the major roads in the area pose threats to pedestrians and are not bike-friendly.

Families in Shadywood East often visit the Oakmont North Playgrounds and Azalea Acres Neighborhood Park to enjoy play equipment, open space and walking trails. Oakmont takes about 5 minutes to reach by car and also has basketball courts, but many people prefer to drive a few extra minutes to enjoy the shady play area at Azalea Acres. Both parks remain free to the public.

Shadywood East offers comfortable living for middle income households. Home values are slightly lower than the average real estate price in Hampton Roads and significantly less than the state average. Renters, on the other hand, typically pay more for housing than other Norfolk residents, primarily due to the luxury apartment communities popping up in the area. One-bedroom apartments rent for an average of $1,130 per month, not including utilities. Other living costs in Shadywood East prove similar to costs throughout Hampton Roads. Most gas stations charge about 2.5 percent less than the average price across the nation, while a domestic beer costs $4 at most of the bars in the area. Residents who take the bus pay $1.75 per ride, or they can purchase an all-day pass for $4.

With shopping centers and specialty stores lining the nearby roadways, Shadywood East residents usually find their favorite retailers outside of the neighborhood and right around the corner. Norview Center offers Kmart, a Sears outlet shop and Dollar Tree, all within a short walk of the community. Head across the street to Bromley Shopping Center to find the closest grocery store, Food Lion, along with Dollar General and a variety of small retailers. Family Dollar sits just 5 minutes away by car, located in the Chesapeake Boulevard Shops.

A mile south of Shadywood East on Military Highway, Flea Market of Norfolk attracts visitors from all over Hampton Roads. The indoor/outdoor market features over 200 local vendors, selling everything from handmade soaps to designer fashions. Stop by Barb’s Gifts-n-More for unique gift ideas. Barb’s carries RC toys, collectible figurines, cuckoo clocks and much more.

Shoppers looking for high-end stores only need to travel 15 minutes to find them. MacArthur Center in Downtown Norfolk centers around Dillard’s and Nordstrom with dozens of popular boutiques in between, including Everything but Water, Lids and Justice. Silver Stream is a family owned jewelry boutique specializing in unique silver jewelry and stunning natural gemstones. About 2 miles north of MacArthur Center, the local farmers’ market sits about 11 minutes away from Shadywood East and has a popular year-round CSA program.