Why 29?
by Charlottesville29
The Charlottesville 29 is named after the 29th Infantry Division Memorial Highway, better known as Route 29. The 29th Infantry is a division of the U.S. Army based in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, with deployments in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. It is perhaps best known for its efforts in World War II on D-Day along the beaches of Normandy, France, which have been depicted in movies like Saving Private Ryan and The Longest Day.
Extending from the North Carolina border to Northern Virginia, Route 29 goes right through Charlottesville. Longtime residents can recall when it was just a single-lane road, with little commerce. oday, the portion of Route 29 just north of Charlottesville has expanded to as many as five lanes in some stretches, and has become home to much of the area’s commerce. While residents disagree over whether this expansion is a good thing, this site would not be possible without it. The same growth that resulted in the physical and commercial transformation of Route 29 has also resulted in a boom in Charlottesville restaurants. Just decades ago, the organizing principle of this site would have made little sense. Today, there are so many good places to eat in Charlottesville that The Charlottesville 29 is not only possible, but a lot of fun.
The Charlottesville 29 is named for the love-it-or-hate-it road that is symbolic of the growth that makes this site possible.