Downtown Discoveries: Things to Do in Wayne, PA

storefronts along the Lincoln Highway in Wayne, PA

Date of Visit: July 6, 2024

The Main Line suburbs are Philadelphia are some of the most fun to explore. Each main street is unique with its own charm, but it seems like all of them offer shopping, dining and entertainment options.

man sitting on a giant wooden chair along the street in Wayne, PA

The borough of Wayne is no exception.

Located just south of Valley Forge Park in Delaware County, Wayne is a vibrant town with a lot to offer.

children's clothes hang on a rack at the Blue Beret in Wayne, PA

We were in town for dinner but decided to take a walk around and do some shopping first. Our first stop was at the Blue Beret, a kids boutique offering unique clothes and gifts for the littlest ones.

home decor items sit on a wooden table in front of a rack of clothes at Chosen Selections in Wayne, PA

Julie made a stop just a few doors down at Chosen Selections, where they had a selection of clothes and accessories (she picked up a new bag while we were there).

Wall graphic that reads "Wheelhouse Cards & Community" with the words surrounded by trading cards in protective cases

But I was more interested in Wheelhouse, the sports card and collectibles store that had a ton of Philadelphia sports memorabilia, as well as rare trading cards for the best athletes and vintage apparel, including jerseys and t-shirts celebrating the Spectrum.

five story Tudor brick building with yellow awning and the words "Wayne Hotel"

The stores were all along the 100 block of Route 30, the Lincoln Highway, across the street from the historic Wayne Hotel. The historic property was built in 1906 and at five stories still stands tall, along with the adjacent church spires, above the more modern storefronts.

Along with the hotel, the Anthony Wayne Theater is a signature architectural piece of downtown. Unfortunately, the historic movie theater has been closed since the pandemic (and had an uncertain future even before that). Hopefully it can be revived to bring a signature entertainment piece downtown.

storefronts along North Wayne Avenue in Wayne, PA

The shopping and dining options continue along North Wayne Avenue. Here is where we found Main Point Books. It’s not the largest bookstore, but it had a nice selection and we brought home a couple new titles.

A few other stores were closed by the time we arrived, including Out There Outfitters and Tiger Shop (a men’s store) and Lovebirds Boutique.

dining room with wall lined with pictures of dogs at the White Dog Cafe in Wayne, PA

Downtown features a range of dining options with most of them along Wayne Avenue. There are pubs and cafes, Asian fusion and Italian restaurants. But we decided to visit one of our favorites a few blocks away – the White Dog Café.

two fruity drinks on a table at the White Dog Cafe in Wayne, PA

The White Dog in Wayne is one of five in the Philadelphia area and the second we visited. The restaurants offering a unique menu and support a local nonprofit called Alpha Bravo Canine which donates service dogs to veterans. (Our purchase of the drink special during our visit went toward the charity).

While we love the White Dog, there are enough dining options to satisfy every taste. Just come early so you have time to explore the shops around town before your reservation.