York and R.A Bryan bought 158 acres (64 ha) of undeveloped land two miles west of downtown Raleigh, near the North Carolina State University campus.

In the 1970s, “The Village Subway,” an underground area, formerly used as a bomb shelter in the Cold War, was converted into an entertainment and music venue that included shops and restaurants.

Nightclubs such as The Frog and Nightgown,[10] The Pier, and Cafe Déjà Vu opened and attracted many regional and national upcoming performers as diverse as Muddy Waters, Barry Manilow, and R.E.M.

The Fresh Market, Harris Teeter, Walgreens, and a Wake County Public Library branch serve as anchors.

Today, Village District has over 100 stores including over a dozen restaurants like The Flying Biscuit Cafe and the world's first two-story Chick-fil-A.