
It was another rough week for the Bradlee Shopping Center: earlier this week, a vehicle crashed through the front window of Tropical Smoothie Cafe ((3610-G King Street).
This afternoon (Friday), police responded to a report of a larceny in the shopping center. Alexandria Police spokesman Marcel Bassett told ALXnow the incident involved multiple juveniles and so far no arrest has been reported.
Notification:: There is a moderate police presence in the 3500 block King Street. This is in response to a larceny from persons. No injuries reported in connection with this incident. APD is investigating. pic.twitter.com/mj0ZxjWydq
— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) February 17, 2023
One of the big stories this week was the cancellation of the city’s grant program aimed at helping business owners who are Black, indigenous or a person of color.
The program had been set to launch this month but was delayed after it was challenged in court by engineering firm Tridentis, LLC. The firm claimed in a court filing that the program was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause and prohibited on the basis of race.
The Washington Post reported that Alexandria officials admitted that the grant criteria as written was a violation of the 14th Amendment, but that the city would work to find other ways to help minority business owners disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
The most-read stories this week were:
- Six years after its last defeat, the BID proposal rears its head in Old Town once more
- Vehicle smashes through front window of Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Bradlee Shopping Center
- Alexandria cancels grant program for minority-owned businesses after lawsuit
- The value of Alexandria’s residential tax base is outpacing its commercial tax base
- Man pistol-whipped in Arlandria Monday night
- No arrest after ‘targeted’ drive-by shooting in Arlandria Tuesday night
- Suspect in last Friday’s shooting in Arlandria is under arrest
- Notes: Hybla Valley carjacking raises other criminal justice questions
- Notes: Man convicted of 2021 murder of woman with Down syndrome in the West End
- New safety report details ACPS arrests and security incidents this school year
Recent Stories

It’s here! The 2024 Alexandria Coffee Guide!
After being in production for the past two years, dealing with the tumultuous changes to the service industry following the COVID environment, and the bittersweet closings and openings of coffee shops, Joyful Tern Publishing has finally released the Alexandria Coffee Guide: 2024 Edition!
The guide best serves locals, transplants and tourists interested in coffee by giving them a curated set of Alexandria’s local shops, excluding such brand names like Starbucks, Dunkin’, Peets and the like. The guide is broken down into multiple regions (Old Town North/Del Ray, Crystal City, Old Town, Alexandria West End, and Eisenhower East) and catalogs the coffee shops within each region, as well as notable details about them and things to do in the surrounding area. The guide provides a concise glossary of coffee culture terms near the end, and a few articles about coffee concepts.
Thorough Testing
Sometimes mold is easy to spot, but you don’t know how deep inside your walls it has spread. It can grow in sinks, cabinets, and other places you frequent every day. If you find mold, the question remains: Do I call a professional? Thistle Environmental, LLC believes in quality, comprehensive testing.
CALL NOW: (703) 929-4036
Made in Alexandria Fall Makers’ Market
The Made in ALX Fall Makers’ Market at Port City Brewing Co. in Alexandria is set for Sunday, Sept. 24!
This is the fall’s most fun sip-and-shop, featuring craft beer from the award-winning Port City Brewing Co. along with food,
2023 Alexandria Fall Festival
Food trucks, bounce houses, pony rides, magic shows and more at the 2023 Alexandria Fall Festival, an Alexandria Living event presented by The Patterson Group. Join us at River Farm on Sunday, Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.