MaryAnn Jackson
Staff Writer
What has been almost ten years in the making is now a reality. Urban Outfitters, the ever-popular Philadelphia based chain tailored for young adults is making its way to Norfolk. Urban Outfitter’s new Norfolk home will be located on 271 Granby St. in a building formerly owned by Bobby Wright. The area where Urban Outfitters is being built is in location to what many remember as the building of Time Lounge, along with another building next to Time Lounge. Wright has been negotiating with Urban Outfitters for years on bringing their chain to Hampton Roads, according to the Virginian-Pilot. Urban Outfitter’s new home in Norfolk will outshine Hampton Road’s current closest retailer in Richmond, V.A. The new store located in downtown Norfolk will be almost 14,000 square-feet, with three floors. The new store will also be within walking distance of MacArthur Mall. The projected opening date is set for July of this year.
For those unfamiliar with Urban Outfitters, also referred to as Urban, the store offers a variety of clothing and home pieces. Urban Outfitters has clothing options for everyone and even offers popular shoe brands such as Toms and Minnetonka. Although they offer varieties of clothing options, Urban Outfitters is more than just a clothing retail store. They also have items for a person’s home, including anything from a Home Sweet Apartment doormat, to a dachshund lamp, to bright, unconventional tapestries.
Old Dominion students, and the Hampton Roads community alike are beyond excited for Urban Outfitter’s move to Norfolk. Newport News resident, John Rich said of Urban Outfitter’s move to Norfolk, “I am so excited for the move; it is just what Hampton Road’s needs. We need a little re-vamping around here, especially Norfolk, and it is going to be so great to have such an amazing retailer so close to us.”
Old Dominion sophomore Cassie Lord said of the new store, “I love Urban; the fact that you can walk in and find anything from a five-layer fringed Minnetonka boot to little trinkets for your apartment is awesome. It’s also a great perk, that the new Urban will be located around 10 minutes from ODU’s campus, and I won’t have to drive almost two hours to go to the closest one now, which is in Richmond.”
It is easy to see that the ODU community is thrilled about Urban’s move, and not only is the ODU community excited, but the Hampton Road’s community as well. So starting in July, get ready to see a new kid on the Granby Street block, the brand new, 14,000 square-feet, three story, Urban Outfitters.
