Is Hanes safe?
Winston-Salem, North Carolina · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Hanes as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Hanes
“Go. Hanes is a bustling commercial and suburban district anchored by Winston-Salem's primary retail hub and stable residential pockets. While violent crime is uncommon, visitors should take standard urban precautions against opportunistic vehicle break-ins in busy shopping center parking lots.”
Local police have continued targeted patrols to deter parking lot vehicle break-ins and retail theft across the Hanes Mall corridor.
About the area
Hanes is Winston-Salem's premier retail corridor, centered on Hanes Mall and the surrounding commercial developments along Hanes Mall Boulevard and Silas Creek Parkway. The area offers an extensive mix of big-box shopping, diverse casual dining, and quiet residential subdivisions nearby.
- Commercial Hub
- Car-Dependent
- Suburban Retail
- Bustling
Walking and biking in Hanes
Walk score: 46/100 · Bike score: 34/100
The district lacks dedicated bike lanes and has no direct connections to the city greenway network, making cycling on multi-lane thoroughfares like Hanes Mall Boulevard unfavorable.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are significantly lower than Winston-Salem's citywide average
- Exceptional concentration of national retailers, grocers, and dining options
- High rates of vehicle ownership and direct highway connectivity via I-40 and US-421
Cons
- Elevated rates of property crime and vehicular larceny in large commercial parking plazas
- Automobile-dominated street design with heavy vehicular traffic during peak hours
- Poor pedestrian connectivity outside of individual shopping center perimeters
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is occasionally observed in the form of panhandling near major highway ramps and busy intersections along Stratford Road, but established encampments are rare in the commercial core.
What Hanes is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Calm and peaceful as commercial plazas open and morning commuter traffic picks up on arterial roads.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy and energetic with steady shopper and diner foot traffic in plaza centers, feeling generally very safe.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Active and well-lit around major chain restaurants and the mall perimeter with consistent patron presence.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Retail lots largely empty after 10 PM; quiet residential streets remain calm while dark, empty parking lots warrant standard vigilance.
Transit, parking and getting around
Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA) serves the neighborhood via bus routes such as Route 80 and Route 85, connecting riders directly to the downtown Clark Campbell Transportation Center; there is no local passenger rail service.
Free and plentiful surface lot parking is available at virtually all shopping centers, businesses, and restaurants, with zero paid meter zones in the area.
Things to do in Hanes
- Shop, dine, or visit family entertainment venues at Hanes Mall
- Explore the outdoor trails, tennis courts, and playground at nearby Bolton Park
- Browse specialty boutiques and home decor shops along the South Stratford Road strip
Local favorites
- The Carving Board · Deli · 4.6★ (540)Beloved local daytime eatery known for generous stacked deli sandwiches and house-made side salads.
- Village Juice & Kitchen - Stratford · Health Food Restaurant · 4.5★ (430)Popular local cafe serving fresh cold-pressed juices, grain bowls, wraps, and smoothies.
- Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen · Traditional American Restaurant · 4.2★ (3250)Bustling casual dining spot serving comfort food classics and scratch-made American favorites.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.