A new coffee shop and wine bar has been proposed in Old Town.
Ksenia Varakina recently moved to Alexandria from New York City and wants to open Cherry On Top at 1021 Queen Street before the end of the year. She says that the proposed shop is off the beaten path and wants it to be a refuge for locals to unwind.
Varakina is a data scientist for Mastercard in her day job, and will have to hire staff to help run the shop.
“It’s not located on the main strip,” Varakina told ALXnow. “It’s not going to be a tourist trap, so I want it to be a place for locals.”
That means movie nights, book clubs, and other meetups and community-oriented events, Varakina said.
The shop would sell espresso drinks, wine by the glass, pastries, cheese boards, and light snacks, according to the administrative special use permit application. There would be a total of 40 seats in the business. The 437-square-foot outdoor area would feature eight outdoor tables, accommodating 16 customers.
The Queen Street property was last assessed at $611,000 in January and has been owned by Korry Mial since 2013, according to city records.
While in New York, Varakina worked for Yours Truly Coffee. The shop closed, and the owner established Antica Flora Coffee, where Varakina sources her coffee.
Varakina is posting updates on Instagram.
“I think people are actually curious about what’s happening inside the business,” she said. “My plan is to post all the good and bad things to make it more real, and when people see that, they see a real person behind this coffee shop and wine bar.”
The last day for public comments on the project is August 7. If approved, Varakina says she plans to make some small renovations and open within the next few months.
