The main business areas in Arlington are all located along or around Massachusetts Avenue. The business centers are split up into three distinctive sections: East Arlington, Arlington Center and Arlington Heights. These divisions are based on the Arlington of today having been built upon many hundreds of years of development. Each section of town was once its own distinctive village. The central route through each village was what we know today as Massachusetts Ave. Businesses, the post office and other central town functions all tended to be concentrated along thoroughfare. Mass Ave today might appear to be a casual visitor to be one long stretch of shops and businesses. A closer look reveals there are gaps between each business section.

The following explains where each business center is located. There is also a link to a page that provides more details about each section of town and its businesses.

East Arlington

Massachusetts Ave from Orvis Road to Milton Avenue.

Arlington Center

The largest business district in Arlington. It includes the stretch of Mass Ave from Mill Street to Franklin Avenue and portions of the streets that extend northward from main thoroughfare.

Arlington Heights

Mass Ave from Wanamaker Hardware to Sunrise Assisted Living. The extension of Park Ave across the Minuteman Trail to five corners is also part of this business district.