There has been a slight increase in retail storefront vacancies tracked by the Charlottesville Office of Economic Development according to a recently released report.
According to methodology used in the report, 20 of the 451 tracked storefronts were vacant in January, up from 12 in July 2025.
“This report only studies retail properties within the six City shopping centers,” reads the report. “Barracks Road, Downtown Mall, McIntire Plaza, Preston Plaza, Seminole Square, and The Corner.”
There are many caveats to how a vacancy is defined with only ground floor spaces counted. Vacant office space is not included and any space under renovation for a planned occupation is not defined as a vacancy…