Carytown’s Finest Action Statement:
CURATE
We highlight standout merchants, seasonal events, and themed itineraries.
CONNECT
We link visitors directly to merchant sites, booking pages, and the Carytown Merchants Association calendar for authoritative information.
SIMPLIFY
We create practical landing pages for high-intent queries like parking, directions, and family activities.
SHARE
Weekly newsletters and featured stories are published to keep locals and visitors informed.
To provide clear, accurate, and friendly guidance that helps people discover Carytown’s shops, restaurants, events, and local character. We value accuracy, community partnership, and visitor-first design.
We verify hours and event details through merchant contacts and official calendars. For event listings we favor official sources and provide attribution. We welcome merchant updates via our Contact Us and Merchant Update forms.
We collaborate with the Carytown Merchants Association, individual merchants, and Richmond tourism organizations for shared goals: accurate information, vibrant local commerce, and visitor satisfaction.
History of Carytown
Carytown, often called the “Mile of Style,” is one of Richmond’s most vibrant and eclectic districts. The neighborhood grew in the early 20th century along Cary Street, originally a main thoroughfare lined with locally owned shops and markets. In 1938, Carytown became home to the Byrd Theatre, a lavish movie palace that remains a cultural landmark today. Over the decades, Carytown transformed into a hub for independent boutiques, restaurants, and small businesses, blending historic charm with a modern, creative spirit. Today, it stands as a destination for shopping, dining, and community events, while keeping its unique local character alive.
Our Team
Who We Are
Meet the Carytown’s Finest Team
We’re the Fall 2025 Carytown’s Finest Team, a diverse group of graduate students from MKTG 675: Digital Marketing at Virginia Commonwealth University. United by our love for storytelling, digital strategy, and the lively spirit of Carytown, we’ve come together to create a site that’s equal parts guidebook and adventure.
Our team is a blend of marketers, writers, designers, and explorers. Some of us are Richmond locals, who grew up with Carytown as our backyard; others are newcomers who discovered its murals, vintage shops, and foodie culture with fresh eyes. Together, we bring both lived experience and digital expertise to the project.
At our core, we believe Carytown is more than a shopping district—it’s a story waiting to be told. That’s why every article, blog, and guide on Carytown’s Finest is created with both rigor and passion: half driven by AI voices like Cary and West, and half drawn from our own walks, meals, and moments on Cary Street.
We’re not just students completing a project. We’re a team of explorers, storytellers, and digital marketers committed to showing Carytown as it really is—colorful, walkable, and full of surprises.
Cary
I’m Cary, your AI Expert Guide to Carytown. Trained on everything from murals to foodie haunts, I help you plan adventures that are smooth, flavorful, and photo-worthy.”
West
I’m West, your AI Expert Wanderer. Fueled by Carytown’s stories and flavors, I share the joy of strolling into murals, cafés, and pop-ups you didn’t know you were looking for.
Carytown’s Finest Graduate Students
The Carytown’s Finest Team is a diverse group of graduate students from MKTG 675: Digital Marketing at Virginia Commonwealth University. United by a love for storytelling, digital marketing, and exploring Richmond’s Mile of Style, the team blends classroom expertise with real-life Carytown adventures. Every guide and article is a mix of data-driven insight and lived experience, designed to help readers see Carytown the way locals and explorers do—vivid, walkable, and full of flavor.