Lorton town center shopping (Springfield, Fredericksburg: rent, live in, restaurants)

[jacmadhel]

I have an opportunity to share a huge space in Lorton town center with another artist starting next year. I have never been there. I live in Fredericksburg so it is not too bad to get there but I wondered if anyone actually shops there.
Is it the sort of place that an art gallery seems out of place?
Obviousl,y I would check it out on my own first but want to hear what others think of it.

[HokieFan]

I think that only people who live in Lorton shop there. Other than a few restaurants and a grocery store, there is really nothing there to draw people to the area. So if you don't already shop there, you probably wouldn't go there. It's a generic shopping center in the middle of "bumble" as my DC friends call it. It's on the southern end of NoVA so I can't see a lot of artsy people traveling from other parts of NoVA and DC coming all the way to Lorton for one shop.

If you're trying to get into the NoVA/DC market, Lorton is not the place to be. Unless you're doing something incredibly spectacular and original, most people aren't going to drive over an hour to visit one shop.

The advantage is that you will be near the Lorton Workhouse which probably does draw some people to the area. I see that you can rent studio space within it, maybe it would be worth looking into that: Workhouse Artists | Workhouse Arts Center

[jacmadhel]

Thanks. That is actually what I suspected. I am just beginning to investigate stdio oppotunities and I love Workhouse Arts so I'll check there.

[ChristineVA]

I agree with HokieFan. It's kind of a dead place. I'd be more inclined to try Occoquan--it seems to draw the crowd you are lookinf for but it's probably pricey.

[tgbwc]

I'm in W. Springfield and we'll go there to eat once in a blue moon. A lot of people I talk to don't even know it's there.

[marie5v]

I have never heard of it at all.

[Kembek]

There's really nothing there in the way of shopping. There are a couple of so-so restaurants. I can walk to the place, but why would I? Even the Christmas tree seems to have died. Huge disappointment.

[oneasterisk]

I'm 5-10 minutes south of that "town center" you speak of, and the only time I've been there is to cut through when traffic on I95 is bad...

[selenityk]

I agree with the other posts. There's really not much at the town center that will draw in people from outside of Lorton