The Main Place to Be

The heart of downtown Lexington beats once again in the revitalized retail district
Over the past decade, Main Street in downtown Lexington has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from a quiet thoroughfare into a vibrant hub of shopping, dining, and entertainment. Once characterized by aging storefronts and sporadic foot traffic, the street now boasts a dynamic blend of businesses that have brought life back into the district. Entrepreneurs have breathed new life into historic buildings; new structures have emerged to house restaurants and local businesses; and public spaces like the Icehouse Amphitheatre and the Market at Icehouse have been built while Virginia Hylton Park was recently completely renovated.

The revitalization has brought Main Street back to being a great destination for locals and visitors alike. Many minds, hands, and talents have come together to infuse new life into Main Street, drawing on inspiration from what the district once was half a century ago.

In Main Street’s glory days, families would flock downtown to shop at the local businesses and to visit the Lexington State Bank (housed in what is now Bodhi Thai.) There were stores like Sessions’, INC, where you could buy everything from casserole dishes to clothing—It was a sprawling one-story store that rambled on Main Street. Harmon Drug Store was where you’d find your pharmaceutical needs and ice-cold cokes. Addy’s Department Store had clothing and shoes. Lad and Dad had clothing for men and boys and often employed local teenagers to wrap presents during the holiday season.

There was a sense of community along the street. You could walk down the sidewalk, popping in and out of shops and you purchased what you needed. You’d likely run into friends along the way, stopping to catch up with them and ask what’s new.

Over time, Main Street lost its shine and appeal as businesses closed, or moved to other areas of town as Lexington began growing outwards from the city center. It became an area of “nothing” and one that the community had little reason to visit. New businesses didn’t give the location a chance—And, 10-15 years ago, who could blame them?

One entrepreneur, Jeremy Addy, took a chance on the dilapidated district at a time when others turned away from it, noting that “nothing” was there and there was no opportunity to be had on the outdated street.

“While we were developing the concept of our store, Craig Reagin, we decided that we wanted to set our store apart using three components,” said Addy, owner of Craig Reagin Clothiers on Main Street in downtown Lexington. “We would focus on customer service, product selection, and a sense of community. Generations before me used to utilize shopping as an avenue to interact with friends, spend time with family, and create lasting memories.”

Growing up in a family that has lived in Lexington for generations, Addy heard what downtown Lexington used to look like from his dad. “Before we opened, when I would drive downtown with my dad, he would always mention what had been in each store when he was a kid,” said Addy. “He would share a story about how he remembered buying a coke here, getting his first suit there, and various other fun-filled memories. As he pointed out each place, it was disheartening to me. At the time, each building that he pointed to was either vacant, falling down, or being underutilized.”

Jeremy used the stories and memories that his dad shared as motivation for what he hoped Main Street could be again, one business and building at a time. He wanted to see a thriving, vibrant downtown shopping and dining district that many neighbors who grew up in Lexington over 50 years ago can recall.

“Because of this, I wanted Craig Reagin to become a spot that would entice people to once again come downtown and create memories like my father had of walking downtown so that I could enjoy the same with my family and friends.”

Jeremy set out and got to work. “Initially, we had to overcome the stigma that there was ‘nothing downtown’,” said Addy. “For the longest time, people had the notion that downtown was just vacant buildings or lawyers offices, so we had to educate the Lexington community that downtown was growing and that there was a reason to come.”

Other shops and restaurants began following suit, finding Main Street to be the perfect home for their business. Rerouting traffic through town and providing additional parking has also played a part in bringing more people back to shop, dine, and enjoy time together.

“Since we opened, the parking lot that adjoins the amphitheater and the amphitheater itself has been the most critical improvement,” said Jeremy. “The ability to host events downtown brings people to our area that normally might not come, which exposes them to new stores and restaurants, incentivizing them to come back and try more new places.”

The work on Main Street is far from over, with businesses like The Kindred Boutique renovating existing buildings and turning them into fresh storefronts, and with plans for new ventures, like adding a hotel across the street from Addy’s store.

“I’m very excited to see the hotel started across the street because I think that is the last component that Main Street has needed,” said Jeremy. “The ability to have an event downtown at the amphitheater or even in the event space that the hotel will offer, then have people stay downtown creates the ability to market Main Street as a weekend destination rather than just somewhere to come to spend a few hours. This opens up a new level of marketing to allow businesses to prosper and allow residences to have amenities that many other communities cannot offer.”

Business owners on Main Street have an unwavering passion for building a thriving community, driven by a deep desire to restore the original vibrancy and charm it was once known to have. Their dedication inspires both collaboration and innovation, fostering a sense of pride and purpose among all who share their vision for Main Street.

“We have a lot of business owners downtown that are passionate about building a community,” said Addy. “I think every business downtown is worth patronizing over the ‘big box’ counterparts because all of us work hard to create a cohesive destination that promotes one another.”

Even just a few years ago, you would need an hour or two in the middle of the week to spend on Main Street to get your full enjoyment out of what was offered there. That has quickly changed as more places have opened up their doors, offering later hours and weekend opportunities to visit.

“At this point, you could spend an entire day downtown having breakfast, taking in the fresh air at the local park, shopping at a bunch of fantastic stores, dining at a great restaurant for dinner, and then enjoying entertainment at the amphitheater,” said Addy. “We have everything that any big city offers within two blocks downtown while we maintain the local downhome community that Lexington is known to be.”

The entrepreneurs and shop owners have put in the time, effort, and funds to kickstart the revitalization, but it takes more than that to truly create a thriving economic district where everyone can find something to enjoy. If you love what’s being offered, let a business know. Tell a friend about it. Share it on your social media pages so that others know about it. If there is something you think is missing, say something and do what you can to help make it a reality. Main Street is for everyone, and it takes everyone to make it a wonderful place to visit.

Many store and restaurant owners have built personal relationships with their customers, readily accepting feedback on how they can improve their store or the area.

“The biggest thing the community can do is voice when you are satisfied with a store,” said Addy. “Most of the time, people only post or talk poorly about stores when they have had a bad experience and never mention the hundreds of other times they have had a good experience. Like any store, local stores need to earn your business by providing great products and great service, but when they do, they should be broadcast on the same platform as when they fall short.”

Everyone, from the businesses to the patrons, has one common goal: Bring Main Street back to the beloved retail district that it once was. “I hope that in five years, people my parents’ age can be proud that Main Street has returned to its ‘glory days’ of the previous generations,” said Addy. “I would love to see it as a place where the community can be proud to walk downtown, shop, eat, get a haircut, and build relationships with neighbors.”