Retail use if shifting... I think restaurant and service businesses are still in demand but the city has made it very challenging for any type of restaurant that wants to serve alcohol to open (or remain open). The process is much easier and quicker in every other city. To couple with that the landlords want ridiculous rents for areas that honestly don't have the foot traffic to support. Your average VA Beach shopping center has more foot traffic than most portions of Granby Street downtown. Why pay ridiculous rents and fight with the city government when you can do better in Virginia Beach? I want to see the city grow and Granby be what it was 10 years ago but those two issues are prevalent. All the new residential is popping up which is great but there are no retail amenities which is really odd. Why even choose to live squished into an urban environment if there is no walkability? I'd rather have a yard.
I will say Hampton Blvd has a ton of new retail tenants. They all have parking lots. I guess the new residents downtown can hop in their cars and drive to Hampton Blvd for shopping and dining.