News

A new coffee shop and wine bar has been proposed in Old Town.

Ksenia Varakina recently moved to Alexandria from New York City and wants to open Cherry On Top at 1021 Queen Street before the end of the year. She says that the proposed shop is off the beaten path and wants it to be a refuge for locals to unwind.


News

It’s taken a lot of coffee to keep Hypergoat Coffee Roasters humming in Old Town, and next month they’re celebrating their first year in business.

“This past year has been full — early mornings, great conversations, new faces, familiar ones, and lots of coffee shared,” shop owner Deborah Joos Tafner de Moraes recently wrote on social media. “We’ve grown more than we imagined, and it’s all because of the people who’ve been part of this journey.”


News

The La Madeleine at 500 King Street in Old Town is temporarily closed, but signs in the window say it will reopen next month.

The coffee shop, next to the Alexandria Circuit Court and directly adjacent to a Starbucks, has signs in the window saying the shop will reopen on March 16.


News

Tired? There’s a new specialty coffee roaster in Old Town.

After launching at area farmers markets last year, Hypergoat Coffee Roasters formally opened at 215 N. Payne Street in August. The new business is the culmination of a decade-long hobby for married owners Rodrigo Ramos and Deborah Joos Tafner de Moraes.


News

Old Town is getting more banks, coffee shops and pizza places, and many of the comments say enough is enough.

TD Bank filed a special use permit to move into the former SunTrust branch at 515 King Street. Mudhouse Coffee Roasters also filed a permit this week to finally move into 1119 King Street.


News

Three years after purchasing the building, Mudhouse Coffee Roasters could finally be moving into 1119 King Street.

The owner filed a new special use permit this week to renovate the existing retail/mercantile space into use as a coffee shop. The shop will have 20-25 maximum patrons, according to the permit.


Around Town

When Kristin Cowan comes to work each day she doesn’t have much time to relax.

Her days are full of cleaning, lots of it. Assuring that most of her “employees” have a clean place to go to the bathroom is essential. Making sure they are healthy and that none of them have made a mess of the garbage overnight barely makes a dent in her to-do list.


News

Where’s Waldo? Kids and parents with eagle eyes can spot him this month in 25 Alexandria businesses.

After you find Waldo at 10 businesses, spotters can collect prizes at Hooray for Books (1555 King Street) in Old Town. Collectors with at least 20 stamps on a passport (found at any participating business) can claim a Waldo temporary tattoo and store coupon.


News

After being closed since January, Abyssinia Market and Coffee House will reopen on Saturday (May 13) in Old Town, owner Lily Damtew recently announced on Facebook.

“I’m very happy to announce that we’ll be reopening the coffee shop this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.” she wrote on Facebook. “All beer and wines are on sale everything must go. Thank you for all the love and support you showed us, we hope to see you on Saturday!”


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