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Del Ray Business Association celebrates ribbon cuttings for two new storefronts

By James Cullum
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Two local businesses in Del Ray held ribbon cuttings at their new storefronts Saturday (May 16).

The Del Ray Business Association hosted the ribbon cuttings for Lifestyle & Performance Fitness (202 E. Custis Avenue) and the Department of Beer and Wine (2805 Mount Vernon Avenue). The events were attended by City Council Members John Taylor Chapman and Sandy Marks, along with DRBA president Lauren Fisher and board member Gayle Reuter.

Patrick Newhall and Lawrence Soto officially opened Lifestyle & Performance Fitness in January, replacing vintage furniture store Magpie Reclamations, which closed last November.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received from the community and our clients,” Soto and Newhall said in a release after opening. “They have played a major role in helping us to get to this point where we could open our own studio in Del Ray. We’ve been fortunate to work with so many great people along the way, and we’re excited to be a part of the community here in Alexandria.”

The Department of Beer and Wine opened at its current location last November after relocating within Mount Vernon Avenue. The business originally opened nine years ago at 2724 Richmond Highway before closing last March. DBW shares 2805 Mount Vernon Avenue with a Truist bank.

Led by Stevie Treichel and Melissa and Jeff Sapsford, the gourmet shop specializes in sustainable wines and international and local craft beer.

“We still can’t believe we found the most incredible spot on Mount Vernon Avenue, and with so much parking,” the DBW team said on Facebook after opening. “It’s also amazing that we are still off Raymond Ave, but finally in the heart of Del Ray like we always wanted to be.”

 

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A post shared by Lauren Fisher (@drlaurenfisheralx)


Image 2 via Department of Beer and Wine/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.