Tanners Creek - Norfolk, VA Area Guide

Art galleries, military museums and historic homes scatter the waterfront in Downtown Norfolk, telling the story of the area’s rich history and deep culture. The Chrysler Museum of Art houses one of the nation's most extensive art collections. The museum also includes two historic homes in downtown Norfolk, the Willoughby-Baylor House built in 1794 and the Moses Myers House from the late Federal era. The annual Waterfront Jazz Festival takes place each July in Town Point Park.

Tanners Creek wasn't part of the city of Norfolk until the eighth annexation in 1955. Development flourished during the 1960s and 1970s. Dozens of single-family housing units were constructed, along with several apartment buildings that could accommodate singles, couples and families. Very few new homes appeared during the 1980s, but development picked up in the 1990s and continues at a steady rate.

From Italian and Filipino cuisine to seafood and sub shops, Tanners Creek residents have easy access to a tantalizing selection of restaurants. A handful of fast food chains and local eateries sit along Norview Avenue on the south side of the community, including Andy’s Pizza House, known for the handmade pizza dough, and Franco’s, an Italian eatery featuring gourmet pasta dishes alongside pizza, stromboli and calzones.

Heading north to Little Creek Road unlocks a variety of dining choices, as well as local nightlife venues. The Lumpia House serves traditional lumpia, menudo, and palabok, as well as American fare like Philly cheese steaks and burgers. Locals love the good food and great prices at the Dawg Shack. The fresh, homemade burgers are some of the best in Hampton Roads.

The Virginia Beach oceanfront and Norfolk’s Waterside house many of the area’s hottest clubs and bars, but Little Creek Road has plenty to offer. The Banque, established in 1973, is a country-and-western club featuring free dance lessons, billiards and a full bar. Norfolk’s largest sports bar, Azalea Inn & Time Out, presents a combination of Greek and Italian dishes along with pub classics such as wings, nachos and pizza. Voted Best Pizza in Hampton Roads, the Azalea Special comes with pepperoni, sausage, salami, mushrooms, green peppers, olives, onions and extra cheese. Be sure to try a traditional Greek wine with your meal.

Most Tanners Creek residents need a car to get around. Navigating the busy Hampton Roads expressways isn’t always easy, but it beats walking or riding a bike. Bike-friendly roads cover most of downtown Norfolk, but none exist around the Tanners Creek community. Heavy traffic on the roads surrounding the neighborhood makes walking and cycling a risky choice for transportation.

Located just off of Interstate 64, Tanners Creek residents can get almost anywhere with ease. Free public parking is also a plus, although it costs to park downtown during the workweek. Hampton Roads Transit offers several bus stops in the area for those who would rather leave the car at home. Uber serves the area as well, along with a few taxi companies.

Norfolk’s many parks and recreational facilities showcase the area’s natural beauty. Just north of Tanners Creek, many residents visit Oakmont North Playgrounds when they want some fresh air. In addition to play equipment, the large community park has basketball courts and a walking trail. Overlooking the tranquil waters of the Elizabeth River, Town Point Park hosts an assortment of events throughout the year, including the annual Norfolk Harborfest, the Summer Brewfest and a holiday Yule log bonfire, and features 7 miles of self-guided trails for walking or jogging. Norfolk parks offer free admission, although some events require tickets. The city has 12 designated dog parks with off-leash areas, including Barraud Park, which sits about 5 miles away from Tanners Creek.

Tanners Creek features reasonable home prices and a wide range of rental rates, averaging $796 for a one-bedroom apartment. Rent prices run slightly higher than the national average, but still come in lower than the citywide average in Norfolk. Gas prices in and around Tanners Creek sit just below the national average by about 2.5 percent. A daily bus pass costs $4, and residents can usually find a pub serving beer for $3 or $4 a bottle.

Several small shopping centers surround the Tanners Creek area, providing residents with convenient destinations for their daily errands. The Norview Shopping Center houses Kmart, Dollar Tree and a Sears Outlet, along with a wig store called Fashion Avenue. Across the intersection in the Bromley Shopping Center, residents enjoy a Food Lion and a furniture rental store. Traveling north on Military Highway, locals can satisfy all their automotive needs, whether they want to buy a new car or maintain their existing vehicle, at the Merchant’s Tire & Auto Centers.

Additional car lots, parts stores and garages dot the landscape along East Little Creek Road, along with furniture stores, pharmacies and specialty shops like Fabric Hut and Trilogy Comics. Visit the Tidewater and Southern Shopping Centers at the intersection of Little Creek and Tidewater Drive for the biggest one-stop destination in the Tanners Creek area. Walmart and Food Lion offer convenient, affordable grocery shopping, while Dockers, Peebles and Rainbow carry fashions for the whole family.

Most of the high-end shops in Norfolk reside in MacArthur Center, about 15 minutes away from Tanners Creek near Norfolk’s waterside. Between Dillard’s and Nordstrom, 140 boutiques and specialty stores wait to be explored, including favorites like PacSun, Talbots and Yankee Candle. Across the street, Norfolk Fair Trade Company is a socially responsible marketplace featuring handmade jewelry, toys and gifts created by local and global artisans. Five Points Community Farm Market sits just 2.5 miles north of MacArthur Center, requiring a 12-minute drive from Tanners Creek.