Common storefront sign, and a hint to 20-, 27-, 34- and 44-Across crossword clue
52 Across · WSJ Crossword, August 17, 2026 · 13 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Common storefront sign, and a hint to 20-, 27-, 34- and 44-Across” is PARKINGINREAR. It appears as 52 Across in the Wall Street Journal crossword of August 17, 2026, a Monday puzzle titled “Back Lot” by Kevin Shustack, and it fills 13 squares running left to right from row 12, column 1 of the 15×15 grid.
The clue is a straightforward definition, so the answer is a direct synonym or a factual match for the words as written. The entry begins with P and ends with R, and contains 5 vowels and 8 consonants. If you are working from the crossings, two or three confirmed letters from the Down entries should be enough to lock it in. Monday puzzles are the most approachable of the week, so expect the rest of this grid to be pitched at the same level.
Past appearances
PARKINGINREAR has not appeared as an answer in any other WSJ puzzle in our index, which runs from May 2026 onward. It will be listed here the next time it turns up.