Lexington Center's ArtWalk Is Hanging in Windows Whose Shops Have Closed

In the window where Galaray House used to be, Nancy Mimno's ceramic creatures are on display. "Gold Eyed Green Creature" is priced at $150 and "Long Neck, Pink Tongue" at $600. Barbara O'Brien's "Whisper on the Pond" hangs nearby at $325. On the Munroe Center for the Arts roster, the host for that window is listed as "formerly Gallaray House." Two more windows on the roster carry the same kind of label: "Formerly Wales Copy" and "Formerly Stationers."

ArtWalk 2026 runs in Lexington Center shop windows through Tuesday, Nov. 17, along Mass. Ave. and part of Waltham Street. In most years it works as a pleasant fall walk. This year it also shows how the town fills a storefront when it has nothing to offer a tenant except foot traffic.

Three Windows With No Shop Behind Them

The Munroe Center's location list names 31 hosts, and most are open businesses residents already know. They include Crafty Yankee, Michaelson's Shoes, Theater Pharmacy, Avenue Deli, Rancatore's, Nouvé Bakery, Marathon Sports, Conte's Bike, Love at First Bite, Il Casale and the Russian School of Math, plus several bank branches. The list notes that the show was still being finalized through mid-October, so some placements may have moved.

Here's a sample of what's on view, including the three empty storefronts:

The two closures behind those labels happened this spring. Wales Copy Shop closed on April 30 after 47 years in Lexington Center. According to the Lexington Observer, owner Karen Packard pointed to declining foot traffic as the main reason, and two prospective buyers for the business had backed out. Galaray House partners Ray Ball and Molly Rappoli planned to move the business to 450 Harrison Ave. in Boston's South End, aiming to open there June 5, the Observer reported in May.

Most of the art is for sale. Buyers contact the artist directly using the information posted with each piece, and anything sold stays in the window until the show ends.

Why the Art Lands Where the Leases Ended

ArtWalk began in 2015, when a group of residents wanted a livelier downtown. One of them met the Munroe Arts executive director for coffee, and the idea grew from there. The Munroe Center describes the show's purpose as more foot traffic for shops and more visibility for artists.

Eleven years later, that volunteer idea has become close to official town strategy. In a January interview with the Lexington Observer, Economic Development Director Sandhya Iyer named public art and community events as her office's first goal for 2026:

"The more art programs we have, the more community events, the more increase in foot traffic—the more vibrant the center gets, and we can reduce the Center vacancy rate through that."

In the same interview, she said the town has no incentives, grants or tax breaks to offer new businesses. Its tools are outreach, relationships with property owners and zoning work. One example is an updated definition of "restaurant use," which lets fast-casual places qualify, not just sit-down restaurants.

Without money to offer, the town's main lever is foot traffic. A painting in the old Wales Copy window gives people a reason to walk that stretch of Mass. Ave., which is exactly what the Economic Development Office says it is trying to do.

The Block the Show Doesn't Reach

The Giroux Building sits between Emery Park and the Visitors Center on Mass. Ave. At 1833–1853 Mass. Ave., it faces Buckman Tavern and the Battle Green and has frontage on Mass. Ave., Meriam Street, Depot Square and Depot Place. Neither the former Abbott's space nor the former Via Lago space appears on this year's host list.

The building has seen three departures. Via Lago closed in May 2025 after 37 years. The Chinese restaurant Sanyo also closed, and the Observer reports that its former storefront is now a Russian School of Math. And Abbott's Frozen Custard at 1853 Mass. Ave. stopped operating in November 2024 and was confirmed permanently closed this summer, as the Lexington-Concord Courier reported on Aug. 12. According to the Observer's August report, the building has more than 5,500 square feet available. The owner, Linear Retail Properties, said it had no new tenant as of July 14 but was "working actively to lease the Giroux Building." As of the Courier's Aug. 12 report, no replacement tenants had been announced.

Abbott's franchise operations director, Alicia Bakewicz, told the Observer the company would "like to return one day with a new local partner." If you want custard-adjacent options, Rancatore's, Fruitee Yogurt and the Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin' across from Fletcher Park are still open, and Rancatore's is also an ArtWalk host.

The Next Arrival Has an Address

The newest confirmed business heading to the Center is around the corner at 7 Depot Square. Sam and Kinnari Patel, who own Lexington Liquors there, are converting it into Commune All Day Cafe. The couple has run Turnpike Market in Billerica for 12 years and opened the first Commune in Billerica in June.

Sam Patel explained the switch to the Lexington Observer: "Nobody under 21 will step into a liquor store, whereas everyone will walk into this concept and they'll have food." The menu he described includes George Howell coffee, breakfast sandwiches, smoothies, boba, tacos, açaí bowls, affogato and gelato, plus masala chai with samosas. There will be no fried food and no seed oils. Hours are planned from early morning to 10 p.m., with seating meant for families and for Minuteman Bikeway riders stopping for a smoothie.

What Now Boston reported in July that the Lexington café is expected to open in winter 2026. The Select Board approved the café's common victualler license at its June 15 meeting. The Patels' separate beer and wine license has not appeared on Select Board agendas from August through Oct. 26.

This is also the kind of business the Economic Development Office described when it talked about attracting restaurants that aren't sit-down style. It fills a storefront in the same blocks ArtWalk is trying to keep busy.

Three Weeks Left, Then the Holiday Calendar

From the day this post is published, ArtWalk has a little under three weeks left. Here's what else is happening downtown before and after it ends:

1. Now through Nov. 17: ArtWalk 2026 in Center shop windows. Questions about the show go to [email protected].
2. Saturday, Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m.: The Lexington Symphony performs "Vivid Images," with a conductor's talk at 6:30 p.m.
3. All of November: The Lexington Field & Garden Club's 150th-anniversary display is at Cary Library. Founded in 1876, the club calls itself the oldest federated garden club in the country. Its members tend the Munroe Tavern Colonial Flower Garden, the Antique Rose Garden and the Garden of Native Flowers.
4. Nov. 27 and Nov. 29 at Cary Hall: Judy Collins plays on the 27th, and the show was listed as sold out. Shaun Cassidy's holiday show is on the 29th.
5. Dec. 5 and 6: The Lexington Symphony's Holiday POPS!, with Kids POPS! on the afternoon of Dec. 5.

A good route for the walk: start on the north side of Mass. Ave. at Crafty Yankee and Theater Pharmacy, pass the former Wales Copy and former Stationers windows, then continue to Depot Square, where the Lexington Liquors sign is due to come down this winter.

At Karshis & Co., we track which Lexington Center storefronts close, which fill, and what moves in. If you'd like to talk about what's moving in and out of the Center, or how a downtown like this one shapes a home decision, Let's Connect.