Around Town

UpCycle Creative Reuse Center reopens in new location after six-month closure

By James Cullum
Mayor Alyia Gaskins and Alisa Brooks of Continues Arcade attend an October 2025 event hosted by UpCycle Creative Reuse Center (via UpCycle Creative Reuse Center/Facebook)

After being closed for nearly six months, UpCycle Creative Reuse Center has reopened in an industrial area just south of the Carlyle neighborhood.

The shop has sold all manner of “upcycled” materials, including paper goods, fabrics, craft and party supplies, office goods, containers, jewelry and more since its founding in 2013 by Susan Miranda and Kelley Organek.

The center’s move from 5380 Eisenhower Avenue to 2397 S. Dove Street was made possible by nearly $20,000 in donations to the nonprofit, in addition to a $13,147 donation from Alexandria Women for Good.

“Thanks to the dedication of our generous supporters and amazing staff, we are officially HOME,” UpCycle staff posted on Instagram. Kathryn Amberg, executive director of the nonprofit, said the new space is amazing.

“The wonderful thing about the new space is that we were able to design it in a way to be ADA-compliant,” Amberg said. “It’s ground-level without stairs, with a fully ADA-compliant bathroom, and we also have a room dedicated completely for programming, which is a first. We are very excited about 2026, being able to offer expanded summer camps, allowing programming during shop hours, and this is all new to us.”

UpCycle’s first location in Del Ray was open from 2013 until 2016, after which the nonprofit moved to the Durant Arts Center at 1605 Cameron Street. It remained open there until 2022, before moving in with Building Momentum at 5380-D Eisenhower Avenue.

“We are the only place you can bring certain things in order to save them from the waste stream,” Amberg said. “We really focus on reused items, they are discarded materials that are normally thrown out and recycled. They are extremely useful in curriculums for teachers, we make art with them and we offer a wide variety of programs in addition to our shop.”

The nonprofit will host a ribbon cutting with Mayor Alyia Gaskins at noon on Saturday, Jan. 10, Amberg said.

UpCycle will be closed Dec. 24-26 and Dec. 31 to Jan. 1. Otherwise, the store is open Wednesday to Friday, from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Photo via UpCycle Creative Reuse Center/Facebook.

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.