Downtown in Norfolk, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
East Main Street
Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, July 1, 2018
1. East Main Street Marker
Inscription.
East Main Street. . The portion of East Main Street between Commercial Place and Church Street (now St. Paul’s Boulevard) was notorious with servicemen all over the world until well after World War II. The district was home to taverns such as the Krazy Kat and Red Rooster that lured sailors with hamburgers, music, and flowing beer, giving East Main a reputation as the “largest, most solid block of beer joints in the world.” At the Idle Hour Curio Shop, sailors could pawn mementos from their travels for drink money in nearby bars. The internationally famous Coleman’s Tattoo Parlor, shooting galleries such as the Silver Bullet, and the Gaiety Burlesque Theater were among the many other venues for adult entertainment along the street. By the 1950’s, the redevelopment of East Main Street was inevitable. On New Years Eve 1961, the last of the remaining taverns closed. Work started on the city’s new office and financial district the following year. East Main Street was converted to Main Plaza East, a canopy-covered pedestrian mall, until it reopened to vehicular traffic in 1987.
The portion of East Main Street between Commercial Place and Church Street (now St. Paul’s Boulevard) was notorious with servicemen all over the world until well after World War II. The district was home to taverns such as the Krazy Kat and Red Rooster that lured sailors with hamburgers, music, and flowing beer, giving East Main a reputation as the “largest, most solid block of beer joints in the world.” At the Idle Hour Curio Shop, sailors could pawn mementos from their travels for drink money in nearby bars. The internationally famous Coleman’s Tattoo Parlor, shooting galleries such as the Silver Bullet, and the Gaiety Burlesque Theater were among the many other venues for adult entertainment along the street. By the 1950’s, the redevelopment of East Main Street was inevitable. On New Years Eve 1961, the last of the remaining taverns closed. Work started on the city’s new office and financial district the following year. East Main Street was converted to Main Plaza East, a canopy-covered pedestrian mall, until it reopened to vehicular traffic in 1987.
W. Marker is in Norfolk, Virginia. It is in Downtown. Marker is on East Main Street west of St Pauls Boulevard, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 520 East Main Street, Norfolk VA 23510, United States of America. Touch for directions.
The marker is attached to the front wall of Commercial Place Garage. Pictured right is Old Point Trust Company’s entrance. In the far background is the former courthouse building for the City of Norfolk.
Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, July 1, 2018
3. East Main Street marker, facing north.
Visible here are the Crown Center (right) and newly constructed City of Norfolk Courthouse buildings (background).
Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, July 1, 2018
4. Detail of marker’s left photo.
The caption reads: “Navy Shore Patrol, 1950. Courtesy of Norfolk Public Library.”
Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, July 1, 2018
5. Detail of marker’s middle photo.
The caption reads: “Coleman Tattoo Parlor, 1941. Photograph by John Vachon.”
Photographed By Cynthia L. Clark, July 1, 2018
6. Detail of marker’s right photo.
The caption reads: “Gaiety Theater, c1959. Courtesy of Norfolk Public Library.”
Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2018, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. This page has been viewed 607 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 25, 2018, by Cynthia L. Clark of Suffolk, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
