Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii will open this month at 2466 Mandeville Lane in Carlyle.
The location in the Hoffman Town Center is the first of three that owners Michelle and Richard Lee plan to open across Northern Virginia over the next three years.
“Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii was a great fit for us for multiple reasons,” Michelle Lee said in a press release. “We were initially attracted to the company culture, community giveback efforts, and meaningful story behind the name. We spent three months doing research to ensure this was the right business decision for us. After trying the product, we flew out to meet the CEO and other team members. That trip was so encouraging and solidified that this was absolutely the right move for us.”
The location was originally scheduled to open in the summer of 2022. The company doesn’t say exactly what day in March the shop will open and its phone number is disconnected. Still, when it does open guests will get their first taste of coffee for free by joining a rewards program.
The company was founded in 1989 in Hawaii “with a goal of sharing American-grown, premium Hawaiian coffee from Kauai, Waialua (Oahu), Maui, and 100% Kona coffee with coffee lovers everywhere,” according to its website. It was sold in 1995 and there are now two dozen franchises around the world, with the nearest to Alexandria being in Virginia Beach.
“We’ve heard for years, from our fans visiting our longstanding Virginia Beach location while on vacation, that they’d love a Bad Ass Coffee to enjoy every day in northern Virginia, and at long last, we’re thrilled to say Aloha to Alexandria,” said Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii CEO Scott Snyder.
What’s with the name? According to Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii:
In addition to premium coffee from the famous Kona region of the Big Island, Bad Ass Coffee also sources from Kauai and Maui. Its name pays tribute to a very important animal in Hawaiian coffee history: The Donkey. Legend has it that for generations, donkeys could be heard bellowing as they carried precious loads of coffee beans down the steep mountains of the Big Island. The people of Kona named these hard-working donkeys the “Bad Ass Ones” because of their reliably strong, but stubborn nature in carrying their precious cargo.
Photo via Facebook
Carlyle could be getting a new coffee spot early next year.
Hawaiian coffee chain Bad Ass Coffee Of Hawaii previously announced plans to open at 2466 Mandeville Lane in the Carlyle neighborhood sometime this past summer, but Ashburn-based news site The Burn reported the chain could now be eyeing a Jan. 31 opening.
The Jan. 31 date shows up on Google for the Alexandria location.
The original Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii opened in 1989 and focused on offering coffee grown in the Hawaiian islands. It came to the mainland in 1995 and spread from there. The name comes from the donkeys of Kona, Hawaii, who carried coffee down the mountains.
Photo via Facebook
(Updated 1:40 p.m.) A coffee shop founded by Iraqi immigrants has filed a permit to open in Old Town.
Lily’s Chocolate and Coffee is coming to 631 King Street at the intersection with S. Washington Street. The site was previously Francesca’s until it closed in 2020.
The shop first opened on Vienna’s Maple Avenue in 2021 and specializes in a pastry called lokma.
“We differentiate ourselves by using the best kinds of chocolate from around the globe,” the owners said in the application. “At Lily’s Chocolate & Coffee, not only do we serve light and delicious desserts, but we also serve a wide range of hot and cold beverages to serve our customers with a unique, unforgettable experience.”
The shop will be open from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday, and open from 7 a.m.-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Photo via Lily’s Chocolate & Coffee/Facebook
Old Town coffee shop Turkish Coffee Lady (1001 King Street) is marking its anniversary with a new art exhibition of painted tiny objects.
The current exhibition focuses on U.S. cities represented on miniature food art, like a coffee bean or popcorn.
“A Virginia born woman-owned small business, Turkish Coffee Lady will celebrate its anniversary in the DMV area with a breathtaking miniature art exhibition by artist Hasan Kale known as Microangelo,” the release said. “Kale; a world-renowned micro art master who can turn tiny objects into minuscule paintings, will exhibit his masterpieces in the heart of Old Town Alexandria.”
The exhibit started on Aug. 1 and will continue through Thursday, Sept. 1.
Turkish Coffee Lady opened in Tysons Corner Center in 2017 and the Old Town location opened in January this year, so it isn’t quite aligned with the store’s anniversary.
Founder Gizem Salcigil White said in the release:
“I am incredibly grateful for having the chance to celebrate this important milestone with our community members. After traveling the world with a non-profit award-winning Turkish Coffee Truck for eight years, we introduced our unique coffee and culture house to DMV’s culture adventurers five years ago through our first brick and mortar store. After two years into the pandemic, we survived the storm as a woman-owned business and opened our flagship store in Old Town, Alexandria. To express our gratitude and appreciation to all of our supporters over the past five years, we will proudly mark our anniversary with our new arts director Mr. Kale’s special art exhibition and continue our mission of building friendships one cup at a time”.
The release said a portion of the art exhibit sales will be donated to Children’s Emergency Fund to provide aid to children and families at risk in Ukraine.
In addition to the art exhibit, the coffee shop will also host traditional handcrafts like ceramic tile painting and Turkish coffee brewing on sand.
Photo via Hasan Kale/Instagram
A Bad Ass Coffee Of Hawaii franchise will be opening in later summer in Carlyle, but an exact date has not yet been set.
The company website lists the location at 2466 Mandeville Lane as being in development.
“We are still in the early stages of construction for this location, but are hoping to open late summer 2022,” Badass Coffee told ALXnow in an email.
It costs between $304,500 and $620,000 to open a Badass Coffee franchise, according to the company website.
The company was founded in 1989 in Hawaii “with a goal of sharing American-grown, premium Hawaiian coffee from Kauai, Waialua (Oahu), Maui, and 100% Kona coffee with coffee lovers everywhere.” It was sold in 1995 and there are now two dozen franchises around the world, the nearest to Alexandria being in Virginia Beach.
A new one-stop shop for life’s essentials — coffee and wine — is coming to Old Town.
A new shop called Pluma Cafe and Wine Bar has filed a special use permit to build a restaurant at 1000 Cameron Street. According to the application, the first floor will be the coffeehouse with the wine bar on the second floor.
Designs included with the application show a cozy interior, with two tables and rows of seating facing North Patrick Street and Cameron Street.
The application also said the new shop will have around 18 seats outdoors.
A Tysons coffee shop specializing in Turkish blends is planning to move into a former chocolatier space in Old Town.
Turkish Coffee Lady is a cultural and coffee/tea kiosk in Tysons Corner Center that is applying to open a store at 1001 King Street, Zebra first reported. Owner Gizem Salcigil White has filed a special use permit (SUP) for a change of ownership for the building that once housed Blüprint Chocolatiers and, more notoriously, white nationalist Richard Spencer.
The Tysons Corner Center location opened 2017.
“The new business will be a Turkish coffee and dessert shop offering traditional Turkish coffee, tea, desserts and pastries,” the SUP said. “We will also have cultural gift items and coffee artwork items.”
No live entertainment or ticketed events will held at the venue and the application said there won’t be food preparation in the store.
“Turkish Coffee Lady is an authentic speciality coffee business continuing a 500-year-old tradition of bridging cultures,” the application said. “It is the first and only Turkish gourmet coffee business in the U.S. with the mission of empowering women.”
Photo via Google Maps
City’s Torpedo Factory plans concern artists — “A recent presentation from the Office of the Arts outlining several proposed options for how to renovate the Torpedo Factory has led to pushback from artists, who claim the city’s plans would radically and irrevocably change the historic art center.” [Alexandria Times]
Alexandria man convicted of armed fentanyl trafficking — “A federal jury convicted an Alexandria man yesterday on charges of conspiracy, possession, and distribution of fentanyl and Eutylone, and being a felon in possession of a firearm during drug trafficking.” [Department of Justice]
Alexandria micro-roasters talk beans, brews and batches — “A few Alexandrians are taking their passion for coffee to the next level and roasting their own beans and selling them in small batches.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
City of Alexandria wins 3 awards for employee wellness program — “The City of Alexandria is the winner of three awards for a wellness program designed to help its employees.” [Zebra]
Alexandria political cartoonist shifts to radio — “Following a 30-year political cartooning career, Steve Artley has transitioned his satirical prowess to another form: radio.” [Artley Cartoons]
National Industries for the Blind awarded $8.9 million contract — “National Industries for the Blind, Alexandria, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $8,898,968 modification exercising the third one-year option period of a one-year base contract with four one-year option periods for moisture wicking t-shirts.” [Defense Daily]
Alexandria Times reviews local cappuccinos — “That’s why, for this edition of the Alexandria Times’ Port City Flavor section, I thought I would embark on a caffeine-infused adventure to compare cappuccinos at three of Alexandria’s most beloved coffee shops. I chose to stick to cappuccinos because I have a soft spot for them and honestly, who doesn’t enjoy a good cappuccino?” [Alexandria Times]
National Society of Professional Engineers looking for advocacy manager — “Initiate and lead NSPE Advocacy programs, overseeing all federal, state, and PAC activities and supervise Policy Associate with final approval from Senior Director.” [Roll Call]
