News

Systems Planning and Analysis expansion into Alexandria leads this week’s top stories

By James Cullum
Officials cut a ribbon at Systems Planning & Analysis announcement on Sept. 11, 2025 (staff photo by Ryan Belmore)

Here’s a rundown of our top stories.

Our top story this week is on the Thursday, Sept. 11, announcement that Systems Planning and Analysis (SPA) will expand its Alexandria headquarters and create 1,200 new jobs over the next five years as part of a $46.9 million investment across Northern Virginia. The defense contractor bought, and will renovate, a 239,000-square-foot office building at 2001 N. Beauregard Street. Attendees at the announcement included Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay.

“We congratulate Systems Planning & Analysis on this exciting next chapter of growth at their headquarters and across the region,” Gaskins said. “The purchase of their office headquarters is a signal of their commitment to and investment in Alexandria, where they will grow their workforce and community partnerships.”

The Garden at 1503 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)

Our number-two story this week is on the landlords of a popular beer garden in Del Ray filing a civil claim for eviction against their tenants in Alexandria’s General District Court.

The filing from Twenty-Third Street Corridor LLC cites that the owners of The Garden are paying the default rent and operating on a month-to-month lease. Before the filing, The Garden’s owners, Jeremy Barber and Justus Frank, filed a suit in the Alexandria Circuit Court against the landlord, who listed the property available for rent.

Stratis and Georgia Voustas are the principals of Twenty-Third Street Corridor LLC. ALXnow has reached out to their attorney, Mark P. Friedlander, Jr., and all have declined to comment pending the outcome of the legal proceedings. Their preliminary hearing in General District Court will be heard at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24.

Pupatella at 700 Slaters Lane in Old Town North (staff photo by James Cullum)

The wait is almost over for fans of Pupatella Neapolitan Pizza. Our third top story this week broke the news that the popular local chain is opening at 700 Slaters Lane in Old Town North on Monday, Sept. 15.

Coincidentally, ALXnow just got a sneak peek inside the new restaurant and spoke with its CEO and managing partner. The new restaurant is the twelfth for the company, and has been in development for more than two years.

There are now nine Pupatella locations in Virginia, one in Maryland, and two in Washington, D.C. The location is the former longtime home to Sam’s Custom Cleaners, which shut down a month after the death of owner Tony Tran in 2022.

Looking at Glenn Lewis photography at the Old Town Alexandria Art Festival on Sunday, September 18, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Calling all art lovers! This weekend is the 23rd Annual Alexandria Art Festival at John Carlyle Square Park, where visitors can browse works from juried artists.

Find out more about this and other weekend happenings in our comprehensive listing of weekend events.

The most-read stories this week were:

  1. Alexandria-based defense contractor to add 1,200 jobs in $46.9M expansion (14259 views)
  2. Landlord of popular Del Ray beer garden files eviction lawsuit (10319 views)
  3. Pupatella Neapolitan Pizza to open Sept. 15 in Old Town North (8753 views)
  4. Alexandria reduces footprint of controversial waterfront pump station (5124 views)
  5. Woman charged with using West End hotel room for prostitution (4918 views)
  6. Dog dies in Old Town high-rise apartment fire (4738 views)
  7. Alexandria City Council to vote on permanent closure of 200 block of King Street (4290 views)

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.