It was election week in Alexandria, so congratulations and/or condolences.

Alexandria Democrats managed to hold onto all of the City Council seats. Mayor Justin Wilson won reelection and Elizabeth Bennett-Parker was elected to the 45th District House of Delegates seat. But any local Democrat euphoria was dampened by statewide losses that Wilson warned could reverse recent local wins on some issues.

Here were the most-read stories around ALXnow this week:

1. Developer reopens abandoned Alexandria power plant for tours later this month
2. Cut-through traffic protections along Duke Street could go into effect early next year
3. Man arrested for DWI, smashing cars and leaving scene while parking in Old Town
4. BREAKING: Alexandria School Board election results
5. Georgetown tearoom relocating to Alexandria waterfront
6. Retail, residential, and music venue could replace North Old Town office park
7. City Council to step up fight against Comcast internet monopoly next week
8. BREAKING: Bennett-Parker declares victory in 45th District seat in Virginia House of Delegates
9. Alexandria man arrested for stealing packages outside homes in Old Town
10. Silver Parrot Jewelry permanently closing at end of year in Old Town

After more than four decades at 113 King Street, Silver Parrot Jewelry is closing by the end of the year — or as soon as the shop sells out of its heavily discounted merchandise.

Store manager Megan Vail told ALXnow that the decision was made when the landlord doubled the rent. She says store owner Peter Dunn hasn’t been able to find a new location for years, and instead the business is looking to liquidate its existing stock.

“The landlord always negotiated in the past,but not this time,” Vail said. “We also rent the store next door and sublet it to the America! store, which left a while ago, and now we suspect that someone came in and made an offer for both spots.”

All jewelry at the Silver Parrot is marked 25% to 50% off. The shop carries silver jewelry from around the world, ranging in price from $20 for silver earrings to $3,200 for intricate necklaces inlaid with colorful stones.

“We’ve been very busy this week,” Vail said. “If it stays like this we may not last all through the holidays with the stock that we have.”

The Silver Parrot is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Nicecream, the shop that makes ice cream with liquid nitrogen, has permanently closed on King Street.

The Arlington-based company opened shop in Old Town at 726 King Street four years ago, and joins other recent Nicecream closures in D.C.’s Adam’s Morgan and Shaw neighborhoods. The Arlington location at 2831 Clarendon Boulevard remains open.

“Unfortunately, this Nicecream location is closed,” reads a note on the door. “Thank you for your continued support during this tough time for small businesses. We’ve loved getting to know you!”

Del Ray Italian restaurant to close — “Rosemarino D’Italia will close its doors after Wednesday, July 28 at its Alexandria location in Del Ray, after serving up Italian cuisine to its customers for the past eight years there, according to manager Edward Camacho.” [Alexandria Living]

Work starts on new Athleta store in Old Town — “Construction has started on the former La Tasca restaurant on King Street as the building owners make space for a store for Gap, Inc. athletic brand Athleta.” [Alexandria Living]

Harry Potter birthday tours this Saturday at Apothecary Museum — “In honor of Harry’s birthday, the Apothecary Museum is offering a special tour for families (and adults who missed their Hogwarts’ letter) that will explore the old Apothecary and the historic muggle medicines that inspired the Herbology and Potions of Harry’s wizarding world. Tours are every 30 minutes from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Recommended for fans ages 8 and older.” [City of Alexandria]

Today’s weather — “A mix of clouds and sun in the morning followed by cloudy skies during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 91F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph… Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight. Low 71F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.” [Weather.com]

New job: Temporary enrichment and fitness instructor — “In pursuit of service excellence the Enrichment and Fitness Instructor provides youth, adult, and senior leisure classes at various recreation centers through the City of Alexandria. In this role, you will have the opportunity to ensure that the goals are met to provide a safe, fun, structured and engaging atmosphere for all our customers.” [Indeed]

It was a surprising week in Alexandria.

Our top story by far was on the venomous rattlesnake found in Old Town on Sunday. The timber snake, which also goes by the name American Viper, was discovered in the 400 block of Gibbon Street — a few blocks from the waterfront. It didn’t bite anyone, and was apprehended by the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria’s Animal Services team and later moved to a wildlife facility in Northern Virginia.

This Saturday, June 19,  is also Juneteenth, and the new federal holiday recognizes the end of slavery in the U.S. The City recognized Juneteenth on Friday, and most government offices and facilities were closed. This weekend, the Alexandria Black History Museum is partnering with Washington Revels Jubilee Voices — a group that preserves local Black traditions through a cappella music, dramatic performances and dance — for a virtual Juneteenth Celebration.

Meanwhile, in-person dramatic and musical performances are being planned for July. The Little Theatre of Alexandria is expanding capacity with their new lineup of shows, and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra will resume in-person performing in a reduced program at the City’s birthday celebration on the waterfront on July 10.

In other good news, a pair of T.C. Williams High School Titans raised more than $4,800 to attend the Outdoor Nationals at the University of Oregon on July 1.

In this week’s poll, we asked readers how they think the millions of first allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds should be spent, as City Council will conduct a public hearing on how to spend it on Saturday. After a rash of flooding incidents last year, a majority of the respondents want the funds prioritized for waterway maintenance.

This Sunday is also Father’s Day, and a number of Alexandria businesses are offering unique specials.

Important stories

• ACPS Superintendent Hutchings wins contract renewal with enthusiastic support from School Board
• No cut-through traffic relief in new Duke Street plan, but it could be addressed this fall
• Volunteer Alexandria contends with pandemic aftershock, needs help now more than ever
• Towering east Eisenhower development headed to Planning Commission next week
• UPDATE: Man found in West End after Alexandria Police issue Critical Missing Person Alert
• Local construction worker gets a second chance at professional baseball
• New flood mitigation committee sizes up deluge of city stormwater problems
• Alexandria Black History Museum secures grant to bring city’s civil rights history online
• Pedestrian struck by vehicle in Carlyle and taken to hospital
• Grocery delivery chain Foxtrot coming to Old Town
• Alexandria’s COVID-19 cases barely trickling in, 10 new cases reported last week

Top stories

1. JUST IN: Rarity as American Viper Rattlesnake found in Old Town
2. Captain Sean Casey wins Democratic primary and is running unopposed for Sheriff in November
3. Woman assaulted by mob and pepper-sprayed in Old Town North
4. Man dies of apparent overdose at coworking office in Old Town
5. T.C. Williams High School’s final graduating class walks the stage
6. Alexandria Fire Department rescues woman from stalled car, Flash Flood Watch in effect
7. City launches Duke Street transit overhaul process
8. For Taco Bamba owner, newly announced Landmark location is a homecoming
9. Shortened Alexandria Birthday celebration is still on for July 10
10. Here’s what to do when you find dead birds amid recent epidemic
11. Java Grill closed until further notice in Old Town

Have a safe weekend! 

Courtesy AWLA/Twitter 

The pandemic has taken another Alexandria business. Java Grill at 611 King Street in Old Town has closed until further notice, according to a sign posted on its door.

Perhaps its greatest moment was on Super Tuesday, March 3, 2020. The place was packed with members of Congress, reporters and Democratic supporters for an election night viewing party.

The business closed up less than a month later on March 30. Their final social media post said that the action was temporary.

Java Grill opened in early 2019 in the former Bread & Chocolate, which had been at the location for decades. The street is beginning to look lonely, as neighboring storefronts La Tasca and Walgreens are also vacant.

What a week in Alexandria. Here’s the rundown.

Our top story was on President Joe Biden stopping by the Sportrock Climbing Center in Alexandria last Friday with First Lady Jill Biden and Governor Ralph Northam.

Seeing the president around town is getting to be a regular thing. The president, who also visited in April, discussed “the state’s progress against the coronavirus pandemic” and the celebration of “summer as Virginia lifts all COVID-19 distancing and capacity restrictions.”

This week, we also followed up on a New York Times report about the Virginia Theological Seminary making reparations payments to slavery descendants. The program was launched in 2019, and the school issued $2,100 in annual payments to 15 families in February.

On Wednesday, the Fire Department released its restructuring plan, which goes into effect June 12, and is intended to help emergency response times by shifting resources. AFD will conduct community conversations on the restructuring on Saturday, June 5, at 10 a.m.; Monday, June 7, at 2 p.m. and Thursday, June 10, at 7 p.m.

Closing the short workweek, on Friday Alexandria Police Chief Michael Brown announced that his retirement. Brown’s last day is June 25, and the City Manager is soon expected to name an acting chief to lead the department while the city’s undergoes a national search for a permanent replacement.

Election stories

• Bennett-Parker says Levine mailer on Commonwealth of Virginia letterhead is ethics breach
• Wilson keeps fundraising lead over Silberberg in mayoral primary, McPike leads City Council candidates
• City Council candidate thinks divisive local issues are Republican comeback opportunity
• Former City Council member Willie Bailey announces bid for School Board

Important stories

• A rare glimpse inside Alexandria’s abandoned and overgrown GenOn power plant
• Virginia Theological Seminary is making reparation payments to slavery descendants
• Alexandria military veterans honored on Memorial Day
• Alexandria brings back summer cooling and senior care program
• Police investigate Old Town hit and run
• Woman arrested in Braddock for attacking father of her child with pepper spray and a knife
• Driver in stolen U-Haul pickup truck successfully eludes Virginia State Police
• Alexandria Jail slowly lifting COVID restrictions, in-person attorney visitation for inmates resumes
• Mayor releases figures for ongoing eviction crisis in Alexandria
• ‘Rock It Grill’ eyeing karaoke expansion, bringing back Halloween party

Top stories

1. UPDATED: President Biden and Gov. Northam visited Alexandria this morning
2. JUST IN: Virginia State Police chase U-Haul pickup truck through Alexandria
3. Bennett-Parker says Levine mailer on Commonwealth of Virginia letterhead is ethics breach
4. Goodie’s Frozen Custard & Treats opens in Old Town
5. Hank & Mitzi’s Italian Kitchen closes for the foreseeable future in Old Town North
6. Volunteers needed this weekend to help clear dangerous stretch of Mount Vernon Trail
7. Wilson and Silberberg mayoral debate finale opens possibility of ‘tweaking’ Seminary Road Diet
8. Homegrown Restaurant Group gives employees raise to $15 an hour, will ease COVID restrictions at 6 restaurants
9. ‘Rock It Grill’ eyeing karaoke expansion, bringing back Halloween party
10. Here’s the order that City Council candidates will appear on the ballot for the June 8 democratic primary
11. Ownership of Landmark’s streets could make a big difference down the road

Photo via White House/Twitter

After less than a year in business, Hank & Mitzi’s Italian Kitchen has closed at 600 Montgomery Street in Old Town North, the owner announced on its website and social media on Tuesday.

“Opening a restaurant in the middle of a global pandemic was not without challenges and even with dedicated staff and loyal customers we find ourselves needing to pause, regroup, and determine the best way to move forward in this space,” the business said. “Effective immediately, we are closing Hank & Mitzi’s for the foreseeable future. We thank you for your understanding: it’s been a true pleasure serving you and the North Old Town community.”

The restaurant opened last August after closing for a renovation. Before that, for three years it was Hank’s Pasta Bar, and was a part of the “Hank’s” chain of businesses owned by the Jamie Leeds Restaurant Group, including Hank’s Oyster Bar in Old Town and two other oyster bar locations in D.C.

The now-closed restaurant was named after Leeds’ parents Hank and Mitzi. The restaurant gained a bit of acclaim a month after opening, when its executive chef won the Chopped reality show.

Image via Hank & Mitzi’s/Facebook

Bob & Edith’s Diner to open at the old Ernie’s Original Crab House — “Bob & Edith’s Diner will open on King Street later this year, the company confirmed on Wednesday. The diner will take the place of Ernie’s Original Crab House, which closed in April, at 1743 King St. just a few hundred feet from the King Street Metro station. A Bob & Edith’s Diner T-shirt appeared in the window of the restaurant space sometime late Tuesday or early Wednesday, hinting at the coming change. The new diner could open before the end of this year.” [Alexandria Living]

Alexandria Old Town Art Festival taking place May 15 and 16 — “After the festival had success despite the pandemic in September 2020, a springtime festival will be held on May 15 and 16, 2021. The festival features thousands of art pieces across various mediums, including sculptures, paintings, jewelry, pottery, textiles and more. The event used to be held along King Street, but it is now held at John Carlyle Square, 300 John Carlyle Street, Alexandria. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days, and it is free and open to the public, but visitors are asked to reserve a time slot.” [Patch]

Capital Bikeshare opens station in West End — “Located on Kenmore just off Seminary Rd., we present the latest @bikeshare station installation in #alexandriava” [Twitter]

Today’s weather — “Sunny (during the day), along with a few afternoon clouds. High 66F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph… A few clouds from time to time (in the evening). Low 47F. Winds light and variable.” [Weather.com]

New job: Children’s fun and fitness instructor — “We need Outgoing, Energetic & Fun Loving people to work with kids (2-12 years old). Responsibilities include teaching silly creative movement classes for preschoolers and leading organized games, races, and fun sport activities for older kids at area schools and daycare centers conducting on site field trips.” [Indeed]

A year of family drama behind the scenes of a car dealership ballooned to such a point that the City Council took the incredibly uncommon step this weekend of stripping the business of its Special Use Permit.

M&B Auto Sales (26 S. Dove Street) has been in hot water with multiple neighbors over the last year, with 37 calls for service over the last year for everything from fighting and drug use to “mob activity.” The most recurring issue noted by staff was parking violations, with the business parking vehicles in the public right of way.

Land Use Division Chief Tony LaColla told the City Council that revocation of an SUP was exceedingly rare, with the revoking resulting in closure of the business and loss of jobs.

“When an SUP owner continuously fails to remedy violations and be a nuisance to the neighborhood, staff is left with little choice but to docket for review,” LaColla said.

LaColla said it is the only time in recent memory that revocation of a SUP has gone to City Council. He said when the city showed up for an inspection, there were so many vehicles parked illegally that it was impossible for the city vehicle to access the site.

Owner Hamid Yasini pled for more time from the City Council, arguing that the failures were the result of his nephew, who had since been fired from the dealership. Yasini said his nephew hid information about the violations from him and since been removed. Yasini asked for more time to fix the problems at the site with a new staff.

This argument didn’t hold up for members of the City Council. Mayor Justin Wilson noted that Yasini had indicated awareness of the problems as far back as September last year and City Council member Canek Aguirre pointed out that while the nephew had been hired, Yasini had by his own admission rehired the nephew and his cohorts in December.

The business also culminated in $700 of unpaid fines as of January and a $500 notice of violation, which Yasini said he hasn’t paid yes because the business is waiting for the result of an impending legal action on the advice of his lawyer.

Yasini also attempted to blame the calls for service on one neighbor, whom Yasini said also was guilty of parking violations, which drew a sharp rebuke from Councilwoman Del Pepper.

“For heaven’s sake, get your act together,” Pepper said. “I’m not convinced what you’re saying is getting your act together… Don’t worry about your neighbor, take care of yourself.”

The owner and the director of operations for the neighboring Fontenelle Academy spoke at the meeting. Owner Cynthia Cole said the arrests of staff at the dealership, verbal altercations, illicit drug use and repeated speeding violations on the nearby streets were creating an unsafe environment for the children at the facility.

“My primary concern is safety and care of children whose parents entrust the center with their care, development and education,” Cole said. “It is my responsibility to provide a safe environment for our children. [I am] in support of revocation.”

Carey Meushaw, another neighboring business owner, said M&B Auto Sales had been in constant parking violations and that he was accosted at his business by the manager of the business when he complained.

City Council member Mo Seifeldein attempted to create a substitute motion to give the business a little more time to fix their problem, but it was not approved by the Council.

“We got a lot of promises and a hard luck story, and their commitment to come in two or three times — this is just more of the promises and it’s not fair to the two companies that we heard from today for them to have to deal with the kind of activity that has been going on and I rather suspect would continue,” Pepper said. “It’s not that their hearts aren’t pure and they don’t want to, but that this is a group that has a long history of promising and I think that should be revoked.”

Wilson said that in his ten years on the City Council he had never had a revocation come before the Council, and Pepper said she hadn’t seen one that she could recall in her 35 years.

“If there was an opportunity for that to happen, it should have happened long before we got here,” Wilson said. “Our staff has bent over backwards to work with this applicant to come to an accommodation and that has failed to happen. The suggestions that staff should try to provide more time are way too late.”

Seifeldein said these sorts of violations are common at car dealerships across the city and approving this sort of revocation could set an unwelcome precedent. Over Seifeldein’s objection, the City Council voted to approve the revocation 6-1.

Photo via Google Maps