Carytown voted a top area for shopping

Carytown has been named one of South's best shopping neighborhoods by readers of Southern Living magazine.

The neighborhood of about 300 shops, boutiques and restaurants in Richmond came in at No. 9 in an online poll the magazine conducted. The list of the top 10 shopping districts is being published as part of the magazine's annual readers' choice awards in its January issue, which should reach newsstands in about a week.

"Carytown deserves it," said Raylene Wilkinson, owner of Raylene's Pennyrich and president of the Carytown Merchants Association. "We are a very eclectic area, and we work hard to let all of our customers know that we care about them."

Wilkinson said the ranking should help draw more shoppers to the area, including more Richmond-area residents and visitors. "We are letting people know we are a destination point," she said.

-- John Reid Blackwell