Around Town

Two West End restaurants set to reopen after truck hit power line on Aug. 25

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).
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.
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Two West End restaurants that were forced to close for more than a month after a delivery truck driver hit a power line behind the Shoppes at Foxchase are reopening on Thursday (Oct. 1).

ALXnow confirmed that La Casa Restaurant (4551 Duke Street) and Hong Kong Express (4545 Duke Street) will reopen with their normal operating hours. No other businesses were affected.

The fire destroyed a pickup truck, two dumpsters and fencing behind the shopping center.

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.

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.