Manassas - Retail Stretch (neighborhood, prices, versus)

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

I'm not sure I understand the constant bashing of Manassas but if it makes you feel better then by all means have at it. I'm in Manassas and I avoid this stretch of 234 most everytime I am out and about. Traffic is a pain there but it does have pretty much everything you need. Don't like it then come into Manassas a different way. 28 from Centreville (still traffic) or go to the next exit off 66 (234 bypass and come in that way)

I wasn't bashing Manassas, I was making a comment on a particularly long stretch of chain retail and restaurants. It just happened to be in Manassas that I saw it. There is a similar stretch (although not as long) in Fredricksburg. While being close to this would be a huge turn-off to me, I was curious if others actually found it a bonus. From the responses, it appears they do.

(I happened to think that the Old Town Manassas was very charming.)

[Middlin]

I find these long strips of stores really annoying whether it's in Manassas, Vienna, etc. The traffic, the lights, etc doesn't make it hugely convenient. Obviously, if circumventing these type of areas necessitates really going out of your way, then of course, most would rather have this option than nothing at all. One thing I have found when I've had to take Business 234 as far as the hospital during evening rush, it's not that bad since I think the lights are timed better.

[NALEXAND]

I see it as a good thing. I used to live in NOVA and now live in FL and really hate having to drive long distances to grab a bite to eat or shop.

[stpickrell]

Eventually you find the back streets to take to come out wherever you need on those commercial strips. I'd be more concerned with the immediate neighborhood. I probably wouldn't want to live in the first few houses right off those strips but that is just me.

[oneasterisk]

I work nearby and I like the fact that places to eat are nearby. Like others have said, I've learned routes to avoid it so I know the quick way to get to the restaurants I want.

[michgc]

I don't see where anyone was bashing Manassas in this thread.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by spencgr

I wasn't bashing Manassas, I was making a comment on a particularly long stretch of chain retail and restaurants. It just happened to be in Manassas that I saw it. There is a similar stretch (although not as long) in Fredricksburg. While being close to this would be a huge turn-off to me, I was curious if others actually found it a bonus. From the responses, it appears they do.

(I happened to think that the Old Town Manassas was very charming.)

I went back and reread what you wrote and I agree it wasn't bashing. Maybe I should slow down and read a little more carefully.

[car54]

I took a load of kids on a field trip to Splashdown Water Park the other day. Turned left off 234 onto Sudley Manor. Looked like a pretty nice neighborhood back in there...

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by car54

I took a load of kids on a field trip to Splashdown Water Park the other day. Turned left off 234 onto Sudley Manor. Looked like a pretty nice neighborhood back in there...

Once you get past the townhome development on the left past the Ben Lomond Community Center the rest is not bad at all. Older neighborhood but it has always remained quiet and relatively crime free. The power lines are all buried back here as well which was pretty innovative when this first happened back in the 70's.

[lordntaylor]

Route 234 is congested, but definitely not as bad as the Potomac Mills area. At least in Manassas you do have alternative routes between old town and rte 66 (Ashton Avenue and PW Parkway). I do agree with another poster on this thread; although, Woodbridge has the huge Potomac Mills Mall; Old Town Manassas and Route 234 have retail offerings that are not found in Woodbridge (Barnes and Noble, Sears, Macy's, Ross Dress For Less and A.C. Moore) and the trek across the PW Parkway is much easier that heading up to Fairfax or down to Fredericksburg.