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Alexandria businesses offer discounts for federal workers during government shutdown

By James Cullum
via Made In ALX/Instagram

Several Alexandria businesses are offering discounts and freebies to federal employees affected by the government shutdown.

Made in ALX (415 King Street) is offering discounts on workshops, has items on sale, and is putting out one of their artists’ 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles for anyone to work on during regular business hours. “I’m in a federal family, and have gone through several shutdowns in the past,” Beth Lawton, a cofounder of Made In ALX, told us. “I know firsthand how stressful it is, and if we can make things easier on people affected this year, we’re happy to do that.”

More deals from Alexandria businesses are below.

  • ALX Community is offering any federal employee with an ID 50% off for access every day (costing $17.50 daily). The pass will grant them access to shared coworking spaces, unlimited coffee, tea, WiFi and private telephone booths.
  • Salon deZEN is offering 50% off haircuts with select stylists for all furloughed government employees. Clients also have the opportunity to “pay it forward” by covering the cost of a haircut for a government worker.
  • Bloomers is offering 15% off entire purchases for federal workers.
  • fibre space is bringing back their Furloughed Workers Learn-to-Knit classes. More details will be announced on Monday, Oct. 6. Classes will be offered for $20 (normally $100). Customers will also be able to sponsor “Learn to Knit” kits for furloughed attendees.
  • Ms. Moxie’s Moon Shop has an open period pantry for anyone in need, no questions asked. Also, anyone looking to switch to reusables will get 15% off, and get $5 off all workshops.
As previously reported, Pork Barrel BBQ (2312 Mount Vernon Avenue) and Sweet Fire Donna’s (510 John Carlyle Street) are offering a complimentary pulled pork sandwich to federal employees who present their IDs at the restaurant. The deal is limited to one sandwich per day per federal employee, Monday through Friday.

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.