Around Town

Dream Chaser’s Coffee reopens in Eisenhower West after abrupt closure

By James Cullum
Smiling couple toasting with mugs in front of a lush green wall and neon 'The Garden' sign.
Leo and Brittani Maggio of Dream Chaser’s Coffee at their new location at 5380 Eisenhower Avenue (staff photo by James Cullum)

Dream Chaser’s Coffee is back.

Three months after being forced to close their new coffee shop in Old Town North, Leo and Brittani Maggio have found a new home for the business. On Saturday (July 25), the shop reopened in a large commercial flex space at The Garden Alexandria at 5380 Eisenhower Avenue (Suite C), joining Building Momentum, Saltenna and Dominion Electric Supply, and guaranteeing a steady stream of customers who’ve relied for years on brewing single-cup coffee pods.

In January, the Maggios opened Valletta Espresso Bar inside Italian restaurant Valletta Port at 682 N. St. Asaph Street. About three months later, Maggio told ALXnow that he arrived at work to find the doors locked and the business shut down. Over the next several weeks, the couple watched as their equipment slowly disappeared from inside the shop they were prevented from entering — coffee cups, a coffee maker, silverware and more. A GoFundMe to support the family raised $4,700.

Leo said that Building Momentum’s CEO Dan Lagana read about the closure in ALXnow and offered his event space for them to use.

“It’s basically a big space with a lot of raw potential, and we’re so grateful they want us to come in and help build them a cafe inside,” Leo told ALXnow.

The new location is also a block away from the Van Dorn Metro station, near a Sportrock Climbing Center, the DMV Iron Gym and the Scramble indoor playground.

“We’re so grateful that they want us to come in and to build a cafe,” Brittani said. “We’re just so excited to be able to be in here, to be able to make the space whatever we want at this moment.”

Leo and Brittani Maggio met online more than a decade ago and had their first date at Killer ESP (1012 King Street). Brittani said she and Leo made a connection over their love of coffee, and soon after that date she got a job at the shop as a barista. Over the next decade, after a rebranding and new ownership, Brittani would go on to become the general manager of the shop and the Galactic Panther art gallery.

Brittani said she will start breakfast and lunch in the fall.

“I’ve got some really cool ideas for that,” she said. “We’re starting off simple by giving people the best coffee we have.”

Dream Chaser’s Coffee is open every Monday to Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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.