This is purely anecdotal, but on a recent business trip to Charlottesville, I walked around, window shopped, and watched a big game at a bar/restaurant on the mall for several hours, and a few things struck me as odd (or interesting enough to tell my family when I returned from the trip). That's one reason this case is particular interesting/disturbing to me...Pertaining to the central mall area in particular:
1.) As a 20-something female who's traveled the country alone a lot over the past few years, the people in Charlottesville seemed especially UNfriendly to me...usually folks at the bar strike up conversation or would offer me a seat, and that did not happen at all.
2.) The mall area seemed to consist of what SEEMED like wealthy college students or 20-somethings, "hipster" types, and homeless-looking folks asking for money (including some street performers & vendors; it almost reminded me of a far less crowded/lively French Quarter).
3.) I certainly did NOT feel safe walking alone on the mall by myself after dark and hurried to get to my car, which was parked in a nearby lot.
Just some observations.