The majority of businesses in downtown Lexington are closed on Sundays, leaving customers with limited options to shop on the weekend.
About 58% of Lexington businesses close on Sundays, according to Main Street Lexington’s online business directory and each business’s online posted hours. Across all types of businesses, including cafés, restaurants, gift shops, gyms, barbershops, salons and other services, the trend remains consistent.
Owners of these downtown businesses justify their decision to close on Sundays for varied reasons, such as tradition, needing a “day off” and religious beliefs.
Virginia used to have “blue laws,” which restricted businesses from selling certain goods on Sundays or religious holidays.
The blue laws were revised in October 1961, when the Virginia General Assembly voted to add section 18:1-358 to the Code of Virginia, allowing businesses to stay open on Sundays when necessary. Then, in September 1988, the Virginia Supreme Court deemed all restrictions unconstitutional and abolished them.
Despite this freedom, many Lexington businesses still close their doors on Sundays.
Cindy Hughes, the owner of Sugar Maple Trading Company on North Main Street, said she closed her store on Sundays because of religious reasons, such as honoring the Sabbath.
“We opened seven and a half years ago in August 2018 and it was a non-negotiable thing that we were going to be closed on Sundays,” Hughes said.
At GloBowl Cafe on West Nelson Street, owner Lauren McCaughrin decided to close on Sundays to follow suit with other Lexington businesses and have a day off to help with work-life balance.
McCaughrin previously owned another restaurant, called Woods Creek Windup, which was open Thursday through Monday, including Sundays.
“As a business person, I would think that Sunday is a day that I would like to go out to eat and like to go do things without work,” said McCaughrin. “I did notice that my highest selling day at the Windup before it closed were Sundays.”
Many Lexington restaurants are also closed on Mondays. According to Main Street Lexington’s online business directory and each business’s online posted hours, 35% of Lexington businesses are closed on Mondays.
McCaughrin said that Monday brought in just a few extra customers, while Sunday saw the most crowds at Woods Creek Windup.
But Hughes said she doesn’t mind missing out on Sunday business.
“Any perceived losses for being closed Sundays, I think we make up very well for on Mondays because we’re one of the only stores open on Monday,” said Hughes.
Hughes said she considers the day off a “tremendous benefit” because she doesn’t see any extreme losses in sales.
At Lex Nail Bar & Esthetics on West Washington Street, owner Crystal DeMott said the business closes on Sundays and Mondays. The Sunday closures are because of staffing issues, she said.
“The staff does not generally like to work on weekends. Sunday tends to be a big family day,” DeMott said.
DeMott’s business is also closed on Mondays because the salon has had problems with cancellations in the past. DeMott said Mondays would appear fully booked, but at least half of the appointments would cancel.
Some Lexington businesses choose to stay open on Sundays, including Lexington Pappagallo on North Main Street. Laura Gentry, who has worked at the fashion accessories store for 20 years, said she believes it is beneficial to keep the business open on Sundays.
“Most of our sales are people visiting from out of town, and they’re still here on the Sunday,” said Gentry. “I’ll see the W&L students, and they can come in easier on Sundays because during the week they’re studying.”
Although Sunday is not Lexington Pappagallo’s busiest day, the store still sees many visitors.
The Sunday closures across town inhibit customers from shopping over the weekend.
Aisy Franciscovich, ’27, said that she had to “learn the hard way” that many businesses were closed on Sundays when wandering into town on the weekend.
“Coming from New York, I don’t have to worry about the day of the week that I’m doing my shopping,” she said. “But now that I live in Lexington, I have to plan my week around when the stores will be open.”
