After decades at the corner of King and Washington Streets in Old Town, national retailers Banana Republic and Gap Outlet are closing their doors forever on January 24, 2021.
All merchandise is currently marked between 20% and 40% at Banana Republic (628 King Street), and up to 70% off at Gap Outlet (622 King Street).
The four-story, three part development at 1300 King Street could be finished by this time next year, according to a partner in the joint venture.
The former homes to Pines of Florence and Aftertime Comics at 1300 and 1304 King Street (at the corner of S. Payne Street) are now shells of their former selves. The buildings were erected in the early 19th century and are in the process of being restored by developers The Holladay Corporation and The Foundry Companies.
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.
Bethesda-based Fresh Baguette is planning to open shop at 1101 King Street in Old Town by January or February 2022.
The bakery, which was founded in 2013 and has two bakeries in Maryland and one in Georgetown, recently a request for an alteration at the Alexandria location, which sits at the corner of King Street and Henry Street (southbound Route 1) in Old Town. The move is part of an expansion plan that will see a number of the bakeries popping up around the region.
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.
A Fairfax County man was arrested and released multiple traffic offenses in Old Town on Oct. 10, including driving while intoxicated, driving under a revoked/suspended license and two counts of failing to stop at the scene of an accident.
The 59-year-old suspect allegedly hit three vehicles and drove off while attempting to park in front of The Light Horse Restaurant at 715 King Street, according to a search warrant affidavit.
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.
It takes less than five minutes to make most orders at Don Taco. The restaurant and tequila bar at 808 King Street also claims to make the best margaritas in Old Town, and that combination of making quick to-go orders with alcoholic drinks to wash it all down has been their secret to success during the pandemic.
“There’s not much of a profit margin on food costs,” Don Taco’s General Manager Tracey Deiderich told ALXnow. “As far as alcohol is concerned, that’s where restaurants make most of their money. Allowing restaurants to do this just weeks after we had to shut down was a huge success.”
It was barely a footnote in the six-hour City Council meeting, most of which was consumed with a tense discussion on School Resource Officers, but towards the end City Council meeting last night the group expressed widespread support for permanently making the 100 block of King Street a pedestrian zone.
The closure of the 100 block of King Street into a pedestrian zone was an idea that Mayor Justin Wilson and City Councilman John Chapman spearheaded before the pandemic, but was fast-tracked to benefit local restaurants and businesses that needed the outdoor space for social distancing. The closure has been popular with local businesses and the community at large, a survey put out by the city indicated.
An adult male was injured and a juvenile arrested last week after a fight at the McDonald’s at the Bradlee Shopping Center.
The incident occurred at around 2:20 p.m. on Tuesday, October 5. The victim was treated for injuries at the scene.
Juvenile shot on Four Mile Road — “There is police activity in the 500 block of Four Mile Road for a shooting investigation. Officers discovered a male victim with a gunshot wound around 11:50 a.m.” [Alexandria Police]
ACPS Superintendent Pleads for Return of School Resource Officers — “Escalating violence at Alexandria City High School pushed Superintendent Dr. Gregory Hutchings, Jr .to issue a public plea to reinstate School Resource Officers (SROs) in the school system.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
