A new pedestrian-only corridor in downtown Hampton is hosting events throughout the summer that some business owners hope will provide a needed jolt to an area plagued by construction in recent years.
Hampton officially unveiled the Queens Way space last month after beginning renovation work in fall 2024. Metal seating now fills the bricked area between Wine and S. King streets, which is lined with local businesses as well as flowers and young trees in the courtyard.
The project fully replaced landscaping, lighting and paved areas and removed existing trip hazards such as concrete curbs, according to Hampton spokesperson Michael Holtzclaw. It also replaced aging water and sewer infrastructure along the corridor.
That’s a big change, according to Iryna Patterson. She’s owned Pour Girls restaurant along Queens Way for eight years and opened the Mexican restaurant Las Reinas Cocina next door in recent months. Bad weather has kept people from enjoying the new space earlier this year, but Patterson said she felt the excitement from residents itching to utilize it.
“It’s almost like a whole brand new asset on the block, and I don’t know what to expect, but I’m excited to see everything,” Patterson said. “It’s great to be a part of that development.”
Iryna Patterson, owner of Pour Girls and Las Reinas Cocina on the Queens Way pedestrian corridor, poses for a portrait in Hampton, Va., on June 8, 2026.(Peter Casey / The Virginian-Pilot)
When Patterson opened Pour Girls, she said E. Queens Way was a drivable street. Once the coronavirus pandemic hit, the city provided businesses in the corridor with folding tables and chairs for people to socially distance outside with while they ate or shopped. She said the model became popular, which prompted the city to provide better furniture and work on a permanent upgraded version.
But months of construction took a toll on nearby businesses before the city reopened the space with an unfinished version of the project in May 2025, according to Patterson. Now that the project is done, the city is aiming to make use of it throughout the summer.
Saturday block parties featuring live music are scheduled most Saturday evenings throughout the summer on Queens Way, as is a second Saturdays monthly flea market. The corridor will also expand its upcoming Second Saturday music and vendor festivities to run concurrently with Hampton’s Blackbeard Pirate Festival this weekend along Mill Point.
As more people flock to Hampton’s downtown, Patterson warned that it could be difficult to find a parking space. Nearby parking is very limited, and Patterson said she frequently receives complaints from customers who struggle to find a space near her restaurants due to Queens Way being pedestrian-only.
She said it’s something the city needs to address moving forward, but she isn’t worried about sacrificing on-street spaces for the pedestrian corridor. For Patterson, she said it opens the space to allow for customers to explore rather than stick to the single business they set their GPS toward.
“That kind of opens up the opportunity for people to walk through downtown and see what else is offered,” Patterson said. “It gives you an opportunity to look around and see what else is around you.”
Devlin Epding, 757-510-4037, devlin.epding@virginiamedia.com
If you go
When: Flea Market from 5-10 p.m. Saturday and 12-6 p.m. Sunday, Blackbeard’s Block Party with The Champagne Band from 6-9 p.m Saturday.
Where: Queens Way & Kings Way, Hampton
Cost: Free