The West End is a part of Richmond, Virginia. Definitions of the bounds of the West End vary, it may include only the western part of the city of Richmond or extend as far as western Henrico County. As there is no one municipal organization that represents this specific region, the boundaries are loosely defined as being north of the James River, west of I-195, and south of Broad Street. Historically, the Richmond neighborhoods of the Fan and the Museum District were a part of the West End. A primary conduit through the West End is Interstate 64.
This section is arranged by exits off Interstate 64. In previous decades, the term "The West End" generally referred to the western area of the city itself. However, in recent years, the urbanized area has expanded residentially and commercially into Henrico County, and new developments in the western portion of the city and county in combination are now also considered to be part of "The West End."
A common tool of differentiation used locally is to refer to the westernmost part (generally beginning at the Richmond-Henrico Line going west to Short Pump) as "The Far West End," and to refer to the section closer to and within the city limits as "The Near West End" or "Westhampton."
The principal non-interstate east-west commercial corridors are located along Broad Street (U.S. Highway 250) and Patterson Avenue (State Route 6) each of which extends from the Richmond City Limits westerly through Henrico County into Goochland County. There are many restaurants, businesses and shopping centers, mostly located along or near the three major thoroughfares (Broad Street road and Patterson Avenue runs east-west, Parham runs north-south ). Several major clusters include:
Willow Lawn Shopping Center just west of city limits at Broad Street and Staples Mill Road. One of the first large shopping centers when first opened in the late 1950s, Willow Lawn has been substantially reconfigured and rebuilt to a semi-shopping mall configuration, and includes major stores, small shops, and a food court
"The Village" shopping center at Three Chopt and Patterson (near the University of Richmond)
Westhampton historic commercial district extending from the Patterson and Libbie intersection to the Libbie and Grove shopping district, where one can find cafés and upscale clothing boutiques
Regency Square Mall and Westbury Shopping Center -- This area includes many locally-owned and chain restaurants.This area is adjacent to Douglas S. Freeman High School
West Creek Business Park, originally developed for a Motorola plant that never materialized. [2]. West Creek is now home to the CarMax Home Office and Capital One. It is also a popular place for weekend bikers.
The Country Club of Virginia. Churches, schools, and houses surround this development at the corner of Three Chopt and River Road. Long ago[when?], this area was the town of Rio Vista, Virginia.
