"We have a wide variety of shops on Chautauqua Avenue within a 3-block radius that there's something for everyone," Kim Carlson told The Villager in a February profile of her shop, Pea Pod & Juniper. She said it in the middle of a Western New York winter, which is the part worth paying attention to.
Most of the summer praise for the street went to the outdoor side. In August, a Post-Journal column suggested calling Chautauqua Avenue "The Ave." It sent readers to Stella's patio, Group Ther-Happy's deck near the Lakewood Public Dock and the Rock the Lake concerts on the hill at Hartley Park. Look at how the shops actually run and you see a different calendar. Their opening dates, their stock and the rooms themselves are set up for the months when the patios are empty.
Two of the Ave's Openings Came in November
Cotton Thistle Boutique at 102 Chautauqua Ave opened in November 2021. Gene and Tammy Colquhoun opened the Lakewood location of Colquhoun's Ice Cream and Subs at 48 Chautauqua Ave in November 2024. That came three years after they started selling homemade ice cream from their home in Conewango Valley.
This year those two shops head into their sixth and third winters on the street. Each one had already been through a full Lakewood December before its first summer.
Ice Cream in January, Ornaments in July
Colquhoun's is the clearest example. The Villager's February 2026 issue called it "one of the few places in the area offering ice cream during the winter months." According to that profile, the Colquhouns have made more than 300 ice cream varieties over the years and keep around 30 flavors in the shop during the busy summer months. Their best-known flavor is Scottish Toffee Coffee. "If you can think it, we can make it," Gene said. The subs, soups, salads and wraps on the same counter help explain why a scoop shop stays open in the snow.
A block up, near the clock tower, Pea Pod & Juniper at 141 Chautauqua Ave has the opposite schedule. Carlson opened the florist and gift shop in 2021. Later she added a Christmas shop next door that stays open year-round and stocks "a wide variety of holiday items." So the street has one shop that sells ice cream in January and another that sells ornaments in July.
A Fireplace Where the Patio Was
Group Ther-Happy at 103 Chautauqua Ave gets a lot of summer attention for its patio. The Villager's profile describes a second setup for the cold months, with an indoor fireplace and comfortable seating. Erica Simpson has owned it since May 2024. The menu runs to pizza, sandwiches, salads, wings and a giant pretzel, which suits a November night as well as a July one.
Several other spots on the street are mostly indoor businesses:
- Ryder's Cup at 28 Chautauqua Ave has been locally owned and operated for over 20 years, according to the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau.
- Good Neighbor Bookstore is owned and operated by the Lingle family.
- Bag & String holds regular weekend tastings, according to the Post-Journal column.
- Stella: A Kitchen and Bar at 60 Chautauqua Ave is owned by Bruce and Laurie Stanton. The Post-Journal recommends reservations.
- Vitality Natural Health carries teas, local honey and fresh eggs alongside its supplements.
- Eight Limbs Wellness Studio offers yoga classes and massage.
Here's how the cold-weather stretch of the street lines up by address:
| Address | Business | What carries into winter |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Chautauqua Ave | Ryder's Cup | Coffee shop, locally owned 20+ years |
| 32 Chautauqua Ave | Shabby Shrub | Home decor; patio café planned for next summer |
| 48 Chautauqua Ave | Colquhoun's Ice Cream and Subs | Ice cream served through winter, plus subs and soups |
| 50 Chautauqua Ave | Button's Toys and Treats | Vintage candy, toys, books |
| 60 Chautauqua Ave | Stella: A Kitchen and Bar | Indoor dining; reservations recommended |
| 102 Chautauqua Ave | Cotton Thistle Boutique | Women's clothing, opened November 2021 |
| 103 Chautauqua Ave | Group Ther-Happy | Indoor fireplace in cooler months |
| 141 Chautauqua Ave | Pea Pod & Juniper | Florist with a year-round Christmas shop |
The Newest Name on the Block
This year's change happened at 50 Chautauqua Ave. Carlson opened that space in 2024 as Pea Pod & Juniper Too, a toy and candy shop. It closed for the winter and was due to reopen in April. When it did, it had new owners. Jillian and Alex Kurgan bought it and relaunched it as Button's Toys and Treats, next door to Colquhoun's. The Villager reported in late April that the grand opening had just taken place.
The shop sells vintage candies, children's toys, books and eco-conscious gifts. It also runs an outdoor cotton-candy machine "when the weather permits," the one feature on this block that depends on the weather. This winter is the first one under the Button's name. Last winter, under the old name, this storefront closed until April.
Halloween Lands on a Saturday
October 31 falls on a Saturday this year, two days after this post goes up. Here's how the evening is set up in and near the village:
- 5 to 9 p.m. King-O-Ween at Southern Tier Brewing Company, 2072 Stoneman Circle, as listed in the Observer's event roundup.
- 6 to 8 p.m. Villagewide trick-or-treating, according to the Village of Lakewood calendar.
The trick-or-treat window covers the whole village. Chautauqua Avenue gets no separate time slot. Colquhoun's and Button's are next door to each other at 48 and 50, so families can get candy and ice cream within a few steps of each other.
December Dates Are Still to Come
Lakewood Community Development Corp's Christmas in the Village page still shows the dates from last year. It lists a 5 p.m. tree lighting on Chautauqua Ave for Wednesday, December 3, and events on Friday, December 5 and Saturday, December 6. Those weekdays match the 2025 calendar. In 2026, December 5 falls on a Saturday. The village homepage gives the same yearless Friday and Saturday dates. The layout of past events gives a rough idea of what to expect, though. The schedule had a Saturday sleigh ride from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and shopping at the Chautauqua Ave shops during the festivities. Check lcdcny.org for the 2026 schedule before you plan the weekend.
Carlson told The Villager that LCDC's seasonal events have brought more foot traffic to the street in recent years. "The annual seasonal events have attracted many visitors to Lakewood," she said. That comes from a shop owner speaking in February, after the last round of December events.
The Lake End of the Street Is Still a Plan
The cold-season setup ends where Chautauqua Avenue reaches the water. The Village's Hartley Park master plan presentation proposes a shoreline boardwalk, public docks, a kayak launch, a fishing platform and a splash pad that could turn into an ice rink in winter. These are still proposals. The presentation puts funding applications and implementation in the 2026 to 2028 range. The Village's response to public comments says it and its partners will look for money for design, permitting and construction once the master plan is complete. Nothing at the park changes this winter.
Shabby Shrub at 32 Chautauqua Ave has its own plan for warmer weather. The Post-Journal reported that the shop plans to serve coffee and lunch on its patio next summer. Until then, the street runs on fireplaces, counters and a Christmas shop that never closes.
I've walked Chautauqua Avenue in every season, and if you want help planning a winter afternoon there or anywhere else around the lake, I'm happy to share the stops I know. Reach out through Hanna Briggs and schedule a free consultation and we can talk about Lakewood over coffee at Ryder's Cup.
