Half Moone Cruise Terminal (Norfolk’s downtown cruise embarkation building) is the building referenced throughout this page.
Last updated: May 2026. Independent guide. Not affiliated with any cruise line, business, or organization listed below. Inclusion is editorial, not paid.
A short, working list of queer-owned, queer-operated, and visibly gay-friendly businesses within reasonable walking or short-rideshare distance of the Half Moone Cruise Terminal. “gay-friendly” here means more than a passive welcome — it means visible community engagement, owner involvement, or a track record of hosting and supporting gay-friendly events.
For the broader port-day framework, see the Friends of Dorothy in Norfolk hub.
What This List Is and Is Not
This list is editorial. We have not been paid to include anyone. Businesses move, change ownership, and close; call ahead or check social media before relying on any of these for a port stop. If you find something out of date, the kindest thing is to tell us so we can update.
This is also not a complete list of every welcoming business in downtown Norfolk. Most businesses in the downtown, Ghent, and NEON corridor are welcoming. This page calls out the ones with active, visible engagement.
In the NEON District (10–15 Minutes from Half Moone)
Velvet Witch
A metaphysical and curiosities shop run by queer owners. Crystals, candles, tarot, books, locally made goods. The shop hosts community events and has been a recurring presence in NEON District programming. Photogenic interior. Good if you want a non-touristy souvenir.
Kitsch
A retail space focused on gay and women-owned makers’ goods — prints, stickers, pins, apparel. The kind of inventory you do not find at a cruise-ship gift shop. Carry-on friendly.
d’Art Center
A working artist studio and gallery space with a long-running gay-friendly programming history. Resident artists open their studios to the public; rotating exhibitions often feature queer artists. Free to walk through. One of the better stops in the NEON District for cruise passengers who want art rather than retail.
In and Near Ghent (15-Minute Walk or Five-Minute Rideshare)
Ghent is the historically queer-friendly residential neighborhood west of downtown. Most businesses on Colley Avenue and the surrounding streets are visibly inclusive. Specific anchors:
- Independent bookstores and gift shops along Colley Avenue — Pride flags in windows are common and accurate signals.
- Cafes in Ghent are some of the more comfortable spots to spend an hour writing postcards or reading.
- The Naro Expanded Cinema — long-running independent cinema with a strong track record of gay-friendly programming throughout the year.
Downtown and the Waterfront
Within five to ten minutes of Half Moone:
- Selden Market — a food hall and makerspace. Several of the vendors are queer-owned. See the Selden Market guide for the full vendor list.
- Town Point Park — not a business, but the festival site for Hampton Roads PrideFest and the most visibly gay-friendly space in the city on the right weekend.
Bars and Nightlife (Mostly Not Walkable)
See the Norfolk Gay Bars Guide for a separate page on this. The short version: MJ’s Tavern, The Wave, and 37th and Zen are the active venues; most are a rideshare from the cruise terminal, not a walk, and most are evening venues. For a daytime port stop, save them for an overnight or a separate Norfolk trip.
A Note on the Hershee Bar
You may see references to The Hershee Bar in older Norfolk gay guides. It was one of the oldest lesbian bars on the East Coast and operated in Norfolk for more than three decades before the city purchased the property and demolished it in 2019. There are ongoing community efforts to commemorate the site, but the bar is not open. We mention it here because newer visitors sometimes plan a stop expecting to find it.
Updating This List
If you know a business we should add, or if anything here is out of date, please reach out. Cruise passengers are useful eyes on a city — you see it once and notice what locals stop noticing.
Related Guides
- Friends of Dorothy in Norfolk — gay port-day hub.
- Norfolk Gay Bars Guide (for cruisers with an overnight).
- NEON Arts District Mural Walking Map.
- Selden Market — Food Hall & Makerspace.
- Brunch Near the Cruise Terminal.
Independent guide. Confirm hours and operating status with any business before relying on it for a port-day stop.
Planning your Norfolk port day? Get answers to 40 of the most common cruiser questions in our Norfolk Cruise Port FAQ — covering walkability, parking, side trips, Naval Base tours, and more.
