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Last year brought a number of changes to both Lexington and Buena Vista’s downtowns.
“There are some years where our business stay put,” said Rebecca Logan, executive director of Main Street Lexington. “And some years there’s a sort of domino effect as space opens up.”
“Mulberry DIY was bursting at the seams, and they recently moved into what used to be the Walker Program’s offices, which they were very happy to get,” she said.
Owner Cindy Sparks explained, “We moved over Thanksgiving break. At the new location on West Washington Street, we are able to accommodate larger groups at the workshop.”
Clover Boutique moved from West Washington Street to the corner of West Nelson and South Jefferson, while Ladles and Linens Kitchen Shoppe and The Shenandoah Attic & Victorian Parlor moved into the storefront vacated the previous year by Grand Home Furnishings.
“Cupcake Heaven is new; they had a soft opening the week before Christmas, but officially open now,” said Logan. “Hatterwick moved into what was for years Within Reflexology. Violett Consignment moved into what was Downtown Books before they moved.”
Violett Consignment opened last May, said owner Shelia Glaeser. “It has been fun! I filled a void in the community,” she said. “People are thrilled to have a consignment store in town.”
Glaeser is already looking ahead to a move that will give the store more space.
“Business was brisk and as a result I’m moving to a much larger space at 18 E. Nelson St. in February. The owners of Yesterday Once More are retiring so the almost 1,700-square-foot space became available,” she said.
It is this pattern of growth and turnover that has driven much of the recent change in downtown Lexington, according to Logan. “We may have had a little more relocating this year than normal, but it’s also not entirely unexpected,” Logan said. “Once businesses get established, once they have that stable clientele, they start looking for more space, to be able to expand.” -Last year also brought changes to downtown Buena Vista.
“In 2023, Buena Vista saw a number of new businesses open downtown,” said Brooke Dalton, director of Main Street Buena Vista.
“In February, Electric Iris: 3D Creations moved their printing operations into the Virginia Innovation Accelerator located at 245 W. 21st St.,” she said. “In May, a Mother’s Day workshop kicked off Splash of Color’s newly opened location at 2077 Magnolia Ave.”
“Art on Magnolia, a beautiful gallery and event space located at 2067 Magnolia Ave., opened in October, as did Little Beasties Art Studio, located in the back of the gallery, which had its launch party on Oct. 7,” Dalton said. “The gallery is connected to the George Washington Center for Constitutional Studies, which opened in November.”
Other new additions include Asunder Coffee Roasters, Elizabeth Laughhead Massage Therapy, and Salon 122 West.
Vinyl Cuts moved to Magnolia Avenue in 2023, which brought increased sales to the store.
“It was a fantastic year for us. Being able to move into our much larger, newly renovated building was a huge blessing this year,” said Ruthie Lawhorne, owner. “It has been so nice to have enough work space, storage, and best of all — shopping space!
“Display space and wider isles have made for an easier shopping experience for our customers. Parking at our new location has been a plus as well,” she said. “We’re looking forward to making even more positive changes this coming year!”
