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Ayers Variety & Hardware, a fixture on Washington Boulevard in Arlington’s Westover neighborhood since 1948, is expected to close by the end of July when its lease expires, ending nearly 78 years of operation.
Owners Kristy and Keith Peterkin, siblings who have run the business since their family acquired it in 1977, announced they would be unable to continue. The pair spent about a year seeking a buyer and remained in negotiations through late June, but did not find someone willing to take on the store’s financial and operational demands.
“It’s been a special place,” the owners said in their announcement.
The store has been known throughout the neighborhood for hard-to-find merchandise, knowledgeable customer service, and its role as a gathering spot. Over decades, Ayers became woven into Westover life—hosting holiday visits from Santa Claus, supporting the annual Easter egg hunt, and helping residents with home-repair and gardening projects. Multiple generations of local families worked there.
The business weathered significant challenges in recent years. A damaging 2019 flood tested the store, but neighbors rallied to support it through the recovery. The store also navigated the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, sustained partly by that same community backing.
As of now, no future plans have been announced for the Washington Boulevard storefront.