Del Ray | ALXnow

Bonaventure unveils new shopping center plans on Mount Vernon Avenue

Published February 9, 2022 at 1:00PM

A conceptual design for Bonaventure's property at 2525 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray. (Via Bonaventure)

Local developer Bonaventure hopes their new shopping center in the middle of Del Ray could be constructed as early as summer 2025. That’s if all goes according to their plan.

Right now the plan for 2525 Mount Vernon Avenue is still in its conceptual phase, but includes a four-story, 43-foot-tall building with 12,530 square feet of retail and 79 rental units on the one acre lot. Bonaventure is not planning on including any affordable housing units in the project, and will instead contribute to the city’s Housing Trust Fund.

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Five local businesses in running for Heart of Del Ray award

By James Cullum

Published February 8, 2022 at 2:15PM

The nominations are in for the annual Heart of Del Ray Award, and all the community has to do now is find the love.

Voting closes at noon on Thursday (Feb. 10) for the Del Ray Business Association’s annual award to the business that best represents the heart and soul of the community.

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Local muralist Patrick Kirwin had to lower his prices, then offers started flooding in

By James Cullum

Published January 28, 2022 at 1:30PM | Updated January 28, 2022 at 2:09PM

Ever since he was five years old, local muralist Patrick Kirwin has been drawing on walls. The artist behind the Dogs Of Del Ray mural has been busy during the pandemic, and his work is mostly positive.

Kirwin says that’s what his clients want these days.

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A bunch of new restaurants are coming to Alexandria this year

By James Cullum

Published January 27, 2022 at 1:00PM

Bonchon Chicken is coming to 3690 King Street in the Bradlee Shopping Center. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Getting hungry? A number of new restaurants are slated to open this year in Alexandria, according to the city’s tourism bureau.

Visit Alexandria highlighted many of these new businesses in their annual “What’s New in Alexandria” update, which was held Thursday morning (Dec. 27).

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Matt & Tony’s to open at former Charlie’s On The Avenue at the end of March

By James Cullum

Published January 26, 2022 at 1:15PM

Matt & Tony’s will open for all-day brunch this spring at the former Charlie’s On The Avenue, the new restaurant’s owner tells ALXnow.

Alexandria Restaurant Partners bought the 3,000 square-foot space at 1501 Mount Vernon Avenue last fall with the intention of turning it into a concept called Joe’s Kitchen, but those plans were scrapped when ARP managing partner Matt Sloan announced he was leaving to open his own restaurant.

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Musical pop-ups: “Tiki” pop-up bar opening next week in Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published January 18, 2022 at 1:00PM

Ready for a Mangorita? Tiki, a new pop-up bar will open next week at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue.

The former longtime home to The Sushi Bar was briefly converted into the Christmas-themed pop-up bar Joy On The Avenue, and more pop-ups at the location are being planned as plans for the final concept fall into place. For now, bamboo decorations are being put in place and Tiki masks have been painted on the walls.

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Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published January 18, 2022 at 5:00AM

She said yes! A couple gets engaged at Waterfront Park along the Potomac River in Old Town. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Say farewell to the Fairies of Del Ray–just for now! — “You might have noticed the petite doors and houses and stained glass windows hidden in the crooks of trees and crannies of rocks in the Del Ray neighborhood.” [Zebra]

I-395 Seminary Road ramp conversion OKed by VA board — “The conversion will allow solo riders to use the ramp for a toll and HOV-3 carpoolers to continue using it for free.” [Patch]

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How this Del Ray Farmer’s Market vendor adapted to the pandemic, exceeded 2019 sales

By James Cullum

Published January 14, 2022 at 2:50PM | Updated January 14, 2022 at 3:39PM

On New Year’s morning, Luke Shlagel of Shlagel Farms was among a handful of vendors at the weekly Del Ray Farmer’s Market. Some customers asked why he wasn’t hanging out with his family and taking the day off, and he had a simple answer.

“If I hadn’t come on New Year’s Day, that would have been 20 days since the last market,” Shlagel said. “Christmas was on a Saturday, New Year’s Day was on a Saturday, and if I waited for the following Saturday, the eighth, that’s too long for the community to be without us.”

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Redevelopment plans announced for Community and Human Services office in Del Ray

By Vernon Miles

Published January 12, 2022 at 3:00PM | Updated January 12, 2022 at 3:49PM

2525 Mount Vernon Avenue (via Google Maps)

Redevelopment plans are finally moving forward for an office building in Del Ray, the Washington Business Journal first reported.

Bonaventure Realty purchased 2525 Mount Vernon Avenue, which currently houses the Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS). DCHS will be moving to the West End in 2023.

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Comcast working on fixing widespread internet service outages caused by fire and snowstorm

By Vernon Miles

Published January 4, 2022 at 2:50PM | Updated January 4, 2022 at 3:39PM

Xfinity outage map, photo via Comcast

(Updated 3:40 p.m.) Internet service is down for many Alexandrians as Comcast works to get its network up and running again after yesterday’s snowstorm.

According to the Xfinity outage map, there are several thousand Alexandria affected by the ongoing internet outage, most of them in Del Ray and Arlandria.

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PHOTOS: Scenes from today’s snowstorm in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published January 3, 2022 at 2:15PM

The Wafffle Shop at 3864 Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria, Jan. 3, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Walking in snow-covered streets, shoveling out submerged cars and all the other telltale signs of a snowstorm were seen in Alexandria on Monday (Jan. 3).

Nearly one foot of snow fell on Alexandria from the morning throughout the afternoon, prompting the closure of the city government and virtual learning for Alexandria City Public Schools. Many eateries throughout the city are still open, including in Del Ray and Old Town.