I grew up in Norfolk. More specifically, I grew up in Ghent. I was born and raised in Ghent, went to school in Ghent, and lived in Ghent my whole life (minus a little two-year stint in Western Massachusetts for family reasons).
When I tell people this, I often find that they’re in disbelief that kids grew up in a neighborhood that has been completely transforming for the past (at least) eight years. As I grow up and come into my twenties, I meet more and more people- coworkers, mutual friends, colleagues, etc.- that are transplants to Norfolk proper from other areas in Hampton Roads and Virginia altogether.
HOWEVER, THAT’S NOT TO SAY THIS IS A BAD THING! THE TRANSPLANTS ARE PART OF WHAT HAS MADE THE CITY WHAT IT IS TODAY!
For the first few years of my life, our family lived on Harrington Avenue. Later, we moved to the corner of Westover and Blow. Not a lot of kids my age lived in either of those neighborhoods – and maybe that’s part of the reason why I see Norfolk as the small town of tight-knit 20-30 somethings who seem to all know each other now – and why it blows my mind that this is the way the city is.
On the night of my 19th birthday, I went to a party on Harrington Ave (if you know, you know) and was aghast that this kind of culture existed in my hometown. A week or two before this, I had finished my first year at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, where I was subject to this active nightlife every weekend. I had never known that this kind of life existed in Norfolk; it was worlds away from the high school parties in West Ghent which I formerly attended.
Obviously, as a child, I was oblivious to Norfolk’s culture, and maybe it’s always been there, but it seems like it’s become more dominant in the past few years. Restaurants like Toast, Public House, and the largely-missed Field Guide seemed to have brought new life to Norfolk, creating spaces where young people can congregate, thrive, share ideas, and concentrate on the city’s culture. Before these, there were no spaces for businesses like Lava Presents to hold shows or for pop-ups like Lil’ Za to exist.
The time when Park Place wasn’t the “Railroad District” seems like a faint memory. I think very few people remember when Toast was still Buddy Baker Concrete Co., or when The Veil was the Norfolk Chop House, or even really throwing it back to when Public House was Magnolia.
Again, maybe this young counterculture has always existed, and my hometown friends and I are only now privy to it because of our age. There was the Boathouse venue by Harbor Park in the 90s, waves of small music scenes and house show communities – like the former Wolves Den and the fledgling Not For The Weak Records. However, it seems like in the past few years, it’s steadily become routine for most people in the city as the music, food, and art communities all have all seen a revival.
Theresa Gutterman is a longtime resident of Ghent. She originally moved here in 1978 and stayed because she loved the city life and the thrill it gave her after growing up in the country.
“I enjoyed city life. I enjoyed being able to go to the grocery store in two minutes rather than 30 minutes; I thought the people were cool, the town was cool; I didn’t want to leave, you know?” she said.
In her 43 years in Norfolk, she has seen the city completely change. However, being a homeowner and a longtime resident, she does see the negative side of the youth culture that many of us – who are members of that demographic – might be oblivious to.
Mrs. Gutterman was a bit apprehensive of the new, younger community members “You have to follow the rules, and a lot of them don’t do that. The city has grown, though. It’s come a long way,” she said.
However, Mrs. Gutterman has also seen the city grow. It’s a place that’s always been close to her heart, and she loves to know that it is still thriving.
“[The arts culture] has grown immensely, like you have the Neon District. I enjoy it; it’s great for the community, but we didn’t have all that back in the 80s. That’s definitely grown, and I certainly enjoy that, and it’s great for the city,” Gutterman said, “I love that you can walk anywhere to get groceries, dinner, or a beer. Your neighbors are so close. There’s not much that I hate about it other than the fact that people now like to leave scooters and bikes on the sidewalks. Other than that, I do like this city. You could go to the beach or the mountains; you’re right in between, and that’s where I like to be.”
Max Peronnet has been a friend of mine for nearly my whole life. He grew up in Larchmont and Colonial Place and later attended Maury High School. Since he was ten, he’s been skating in the city and has cultivated deep-rooted relationships through that community. He’s also been working in Norfolk restaurants like Luna Maya since high school.
“Growing up, I thought Norfolk was the most beautiful and biggest city in the country. I’ve never been to a city where every mile you travel, you cross a river. I made rafts as a kid and searched for periwinkles almost every week,” said Peronnet, “In high school, I started to realize how much crime occurs in the city, and my picture-perfect perception began to disappear. Being a skater, you see all the behind-the-scenes activities in a city,” he said, “leaving Norfolk for school and coming back made me realize how much community there is in Norfolk. Especially in the skateboarding scene, all the skateboarders I meet in Norfolk are welcoming and so tight, whereas, in Fairfax, nobody knows each other.”
Peronnet said that his involvement with the art, skating, and music scenes in Norfolk made him appreciate the smaller cities he visits due to knowing everyone in the community.
Norfolk is a very tight-knit city despite its size. It’s not a small town by any means but has a strong community as if it were. I feel like I am not alone in saying that Norfolk is a unique city. I always feel welcomed with open arms when I return home. People in Norfolk care about the people in Norfolk.
“I feel like in cities such as New York City and DC, there are great scenes, but you can almost feel so lonely because there are too many people around. Knowing so many people in Norfolk makes you feel way more involved and appreciated for what you do here,” Peronnet said.
