News

Two restaurants at Shoppes at Foxchase remain closed after Aug. 25 truck fire

By James Cullum
Brick storefronts with a prominent LA CASA RESTAURANT sign under a blue sky; arches at the entrance with other shops nearby (Hong Kong Express visible).
Storefront window with taped handwritten signs: one says 'CLOSED Due to electrical issue' and another notes 'We'll see you soon!', plus 'OPEN' at the bottom. Reflective glass shows street scene.
Exterior view of a café row with signs 'Hong Kong Express' and 'Cortado Cafe' on a brick storefront, with black awnings and outdoor seating under umbrellas.
Sign on window stating the shop is closed due to a power outage, with 'Closed' and 'Thank you!' written in a casual font.
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Two restaurants are still temporarily closed and without power since a delivery truck driver hit a power line behind the Shoppes at Foxchase on Tuesday night, Aug. 25.

That’s more than three weeks ago. The fire that destroyed a pickup truck, two dumpsters and fencing has also shuttered La Casa Restaurant (4551 Duke Street) and Hong Kong Express (4545 Duke Street).

“I didn’t expect it to take Dominion Energy three weeks to get the power fixed,” La Casa owner Demitrius Monis told ALXnow. “We’re on pins and needles and just taking it day by day.”

The fire was reported behind the Harris Teeter (4641 Duke Street) at the Shoppes at Foxchase just before 9 p.m. on Aug. 25 and was extinguished an hour later. It started after the driver of a tractor-trailer making a delivery in the rear of the Harris Teeter “accidentally struck an electrical service drop,” according to the Alexandria Fire Department. No buildings were damaged.

Handwritten notes are taped to the front doors of both La Casa Restaurant and Hong Kong Express. Monis said customers can call 703-370-3600 to get updates.

Fire image via AFD/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.