Landmark/Van Dorn Corridor

Published September 25, 2026 at 2:45PM

Dunkin’ at 504-D S. Van Dorn Street in Alexandria’s West End (via Google Maps)

The first 100 customers at the recently renovated Dunkin’ in the Van Dorn Station Shopping Center this Saturday (Sept. 26) will get free coffee for a year, the franchise announced.

The 2,000-square-foot doughnut shop at 504-D S. Van Dorn Street closed last month, and just got its interior remodeled and parking lot repaved. The shop will host its grand reopening on Saturday from 9-11 a.m. The ribbon cutting will be held at 9:45 a.m. and feature an appearance by Dunkin’s mascot Sprinkles. Free giveaways and samples will also be provided to customers.

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March starting in Alexandria to rally for Virginia data center moratorium

By Emily Leayman

Published September 23, 2026 at 1:45PM

A commercial building at Plaza 500 (via Google Maps)

Organizations and residents opposed to planned data center development just outside city limits are leading a march starting in Alexandria’s West End.

At 12 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, the march will run from Aslin Beer Company (950 S. Pickett Street) to the Plaza 500 center (6295 Edsall Road in Lincolnia) where data centers and a proposed substation are planned.

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Alexandria man held without bond after alleged abduction, robbery of girlfriend

By James Cullum

Published September 22, 2026 at 1:45PM

The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse in Old Town, Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

An Alexandria man is being held without bond on charges of abduction, robbery and violating a protective order against a woman he was dating.

The suspect has been held without bond since his arrest on Monday, May 18. On the previous evening, Sunday, May 17, the victim told police the suspect physically assaulted her and stole $1,500, her iPhone and her car, according to a recently unsealed search warrant affidavit.

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Mayor urges support for West End businesses disrupted by water main break

By Emily Leayman

Published September 21, 2026 at 10:00AM

The water main break Saturday, Sept. 19 near the S. Van Dorn and Pickett Streets intersection (via Alexandria Police/Facebook)

A water main break over the weekend in the West End didn’t just cause disruptions for drivers.

Virginia American Water responded to a water main break on a 12-inch main near the 700 block of S. Pickett Street on the afternoon of Saturday (Sept. 19).

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Van Metre buys land for 110 townhomes at Alexandria’s WestEnd development

By James Cullum

Published August 18, 2026 at 2:45PM

A rendering of the 110-Townhome development at 5801 Duke Street in the WestEnd development (via Van Metre Homes)

Fairfax-based Van Metre Companies announced today (Aug. 18) the acquisition of a 110-townhome development site at Alexandria’s sprawling WestEnd development.

Van Metre bought the property last month for an undisclosed amount. On blocks L and M of the development at 5801 Duke Street, the three-level townhomes will feature front and rear terraces with private parking garages.

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Alexandria man faces public intoxication charge after alleged knife assault

By James Cullum

Published July 28, 2026 at 11:45AM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A 65-year-old Alexandria man was released on a summons after another man was reportedly stabbed in the West End late Sunday night (July 26), the Alexandria Police Department says.

The incident was reported around 11:45 p.m. in the unit block of S. Reynolds Street. The suspect was arrested nearby and charged with resisting arrest, public intoxication and drinking alcohol in public, according to APD. The victim was found by police to be suffering “from an apparent knife wound” and was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

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JUST IN: Dog may have accidentally started fire at West End home, owner says

By Emily Leayman and James Cullum

Published July 13, 2026 at 11:15AM | Updated July 13, 2026 at 11:30PM

Fire in the 600 block of N. Ripley Street, July 13, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A kitchen fire may have been accidentally set off by a dog this morning (Monday) at a West End home, according to the owner.

The Alexandria Fire Department responded around 9:31 a.m. after a resident reported the smell of smoke from a neighbor’s home in the 600 block of N. Ripley Street. Units encountered a fire on the stovetop and confirmed it was out as of 9:50 a.m., according to scanner traffic.

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Duke Street Transitway project nears full funding with $15M more from NVTA

By James Cullum

Published July 10, 2026 at 1:45PM

Duke Street and Cameron Station Boulevard (Staff photo by James Cullum)

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, on Thursday (July 9) unanimously approved a $15 million allocation toward the Duke Street Transitway Project.

With the allocation, NVTA has funded $102 million for the $102.5 million project, which will add more than four miles of bus rapid transit lanes along Duke Street between the King Street-Old Town Metro station and the city’s border with Fairfax County near the former Landmark Mall site. The project has been in the works for years and is in the design phase. The estimated completion date for the new lanes is Dec. 31, 2029.

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City Council denies Virginia Paving Company’s five-year extension in West End

By Emily Leayman

Published July 2, 2026 at 1:45PM

Virginia Paving Company facility near the Van Dorn Metro station (via City of Alexandria)

Alexandria City Council voted yesterday (Wednesday) to deny an extension of Virginia Paving Company’s operations in the West End.

The asphalt production plant, which has been at an 11-acre site at 5601 Courtney Avenue since 1960, had been given Jan. 1, 2027 as a date to clear out operations. The special use permit extension would have allowed it to continue to Jan. 1, 2032.

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Virginia Paving asks for five-year extension of West End asphalt plant’s 2027 closing deadline

By James Cullum

Published June 22, 2026 at 2:45PM

Virginia Paving Company facility near the Van Dorn Metro station (via City of Alexandria)

Seven years after being given a date by the city to clear out of Alexandria’s West End, Virginia Paving Company is asking for a five-year extension.

Asphalt production operations have been at the 11-acre site at 5601 Courtney Avenue since 1960. The proposal would extend the mandated sunset date for asphalt plant operations from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2032, according to planning documents.

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Driver arrested after alleged road rage incident in West End parking lot

By James Cullum

Published May 20, 2026 at 3:45PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

A 27-year-old Alexandria man was arrested and charged with brandishing or pointing a firearm during what police are describing as a road rage incident in the West End.

Around 11:40 p.m. on Friday, April 24, the Alexandria Police Department responded to the Wendy’s restaurant at 229 S. Van Dorn Street to investigate a report of a brandished firearm, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit. In the parking lot, the victim told police that the suspect — who was in a silver Toyota in the Wendy’s drive-thru when police arrived — had pointed a handgun at him while they were across the street in the parking lot of the Van Dorn Plaza.