A decade of art and transformation between 17th and 23rd Streets at the Oceanfront have created synergy and success
By Grace Silipigni
Ten years ago, the 15-block area that comprises the modern-day ViBe District in Virginia Beach was underdeveloped and poorly maintained. The few businesses that called these Oceanfront blocks home struggled to stay afloat. Laura Wood Habr, then co-owner of Croc’s 19th Street Bistro was intimately aware of the challenges local owners faced. So, she composed a strategic plan to revitalize the neighborhood.
She not only hoped to support longstanding businesses but to develop the area into an incubator for creatives and a space for residents and visitors to seek community. Aiding Wood in her development of the ViBe Creative District was Andrew Fine, president of The Runnymede Corporation. The two led an ambitious revitalization project that has since blossomed into a tangible and vibrant hub of art, culture and thriving local businesses.
Small Business Boom
Since establishing the district as a nonprofit in 2015, the ViBe has experienced remarkable growth and now serves as a home base to more than 65 local businesses. The area is also flanked by notable venues including the Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach Sports Center, The Dome and soon-to-open Atlantic Park.
“The ViBe was a seed that was planted by The Old Beach Farmers Market in 2008,” says Wave Riding Vehicles President LG Shaw, referring to the popular weekly seasonal market held in in the ViBe. “Many of the vendors that matured their business at the Market represent [several of the ViBe’s] tenants today.”
Three Ships Coffee and The Stockpot, for example, launched at The Old Beach Farmers Market before establishing flagship storefronts on 19th Street. The roastery and restaurant have since expanded to multiple locations across Virginia Beach and Norfolk.
Similarly, the Old Beach Art and Eco Market paved the way for a number of the ViBe’s most notable creatives. Jars of Dust and North End Bag Co. have gained a national following since transitioning from market stands to retail spaces in the Alley, a sub-section of the ViBe made possible by Shaw and his family.
“My family has had WRV on Cypress Avenue since the 1970s and through the years, we’ve purchased additional properties as they were offered up,” Shaw explains.
This expansion led to the creation of a public skate park, paved parking lot and a sizable warehouse that was ultimately renovated to accommodate Alley tenants like Jars of Dust, Igor’s Custom and more.
A Model for Economic Growth
With business plans and retail space secured, the ViBe Creative District sought funding to help owners launch and maintain their operations. In 2017, the City of Virginia Beach piloted a small business matching grant program. The program allocated $10,000 grants to small businesses in the district and resulted in a substantial return on investment, so much so that the city not only extended the program but promoted it as a city-wide initiative in 2021.
The city continues to pour funds into the revitalization of the ViBe. Ongoing city projects like the $42 million overhaul of the 17th Street corridor will enhance the neighborhood’s infrastructure and connectivity by widening sidewalks, adding bike lanes and improving landscaping.
These structural and cosmetic improvements will also elevate the beauty of the ViBe’s striking art scene. Art at the ViBe is not confined to galleries, rather its sidewalks, roads, fences and even street surfaces serve as canvases for an ever-changing collection of murals and installations. Many of the installations are outfitted with artist biographies and QR codes so visitors can explore the inspiration behind each piece. The ViBe Mural Festival has created more than 70 murals throughout the district and served as a platform for budding artists.
“In 2022, Virginia Beach artist Tessa Hall Duquette painted her first mural along 17th Street with the help of neighbors and friends,” says Kate Pittman, executive director of ViBe. “By the end of the festival, she had offers to paint three additional murals at local businesses outside of ViBe. A year later, she opened her own creative business called The Garage VB and has over two dozen murals completed to date.”
Duquette recently launched The Creative Well, a nonprofit maker space, with co-founder Monica Turkey to further support the local arts movement. “The ViBe has played a huge role in my journey, not just as an artist but as an entrepreneur and member of the local creative community,” says Duquette. “The ViBe continues to offer artists visibility, support and a real sense of belonging.”
The Creative Well offers five artist studios, a public gallery and a classroom dubbed The Wellspring. “Artists can register for individual programs and exhibitions while young artists can explore art-making through playful, hands-on projects during Mini Market Mornings,” says Duquette.
The excitement about and dedication to the ViBe’s next decade echoes throughout the contributions of district dwellers like Shaw, Pittman and Duquette.
“You can feel the authenticity of the ViBe as you walk around the neighborhood,” says Shaw.
“These are friends and neighbors who have mostly bootstrapped their businesses into reality, and you can’t fake that type of environment. The energy is contagious.”
8th Annual ViBe Creative District Mural Festival
October 3-12, 2025
Art comes to life at this annual creative event featuring artists from Virginia and beyond painting new murals throughout the district and featuring community events, tours, fun activities and more.
Learn more at vibecreativedistrict.org
