local business

Published June 23, 2026 at 3:45PM

The Dog Store at 2301 Mount Vernon Avenue will close on June 27, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Dog Store on Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray will shut down on Saturday, June 27, its owner said on social media.

Shop owner Paul Haire said that the shop is closing due to “circumstances beyond our control.” The 2301 Mount Vernon Avenue location remains open for in-store sales through June 27. After that, it will temporarily move from 2301 Mount Vernon Avenue to Haire’s dog boarding facility Your Dog’s Best Friends at 2000 Richmond Highway. The business will continue to offer online ordering with free delivery.

Around Town

Del Ray’s newest restaurant Little Birdie takes flight on Mount Vernon Avenue

By James Cullum

Published June 23, 2026 at 11:55AM

The ribbon cutting at Little Birdie at 1504B Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray, June 23, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria leaders were on hand Tuesday morning to cut the ribbon at Del Ray’s newest restaurant, Little Birdie.

After months of interior renovations, Matt Sloan and Eric Brannon opened the doors to their newest venture at 1504B Mount Vernon Avenue. Brannon and Sloan also own Matt & Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar (1501 Mount Vernon Avenue), which opened in 2022 across the street and is a finalist for a regional RAMMY Award. Sloan is a former managing partner of Alexandria Restaurant Partners, which owns The Majestic, Mia’s Italian Kitchen, Ada’s on the River and numerous other Alexandria restaurants.

Around Town

New café and wine bar launches soft opening this week in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published June 22, 2026 at 11:45AM

Cherry on Top is coming soon to Queen Street in Old Town (courtesy of Ksenia Varakina)

After nearly a year in development, a new café and wine bar in Old Town is soft opening this week.

Owner Ksenia Varakina is opening Cherry On Top at 1021 Queen Street from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday (June 24), and told ALXnow the grand opening will be on July 10. The shop is expected to offer selections of wine, espresso beverages, charcuterie and pastries.

News

Little Birdie in Del Ray wants to use alley for more outdoor seating

By James Cullum

Published June 12, 2026 at 1:45PM

Little Birdie at 1504B Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)

As it prepares to open later this month, Little Birdie in Del Ray wants to add more outside seating.

Restaurant owners Matt Sloan and Eric Brannon are asking the city for permission to install 16 additional outdoor seats in an unused alley, adding to the 10 seats already approved. In March, the city approved the change in ownership at the venue. The space at 1504B Mount Vernon Avenue was formerly occupied by Benny DiForza’s Pizza, which opened in February 2024 and closed last October.

Around Town

State Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker co-founds maternity and kids’ consignment boutique in Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published June 11, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated June 24, 2026 at 5:57PM

Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker reads a proclamation at Art on the Avenue in Del Ray, Oct. 4, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

State Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39) and her business partner are launching a new maternity and children’s consignment boutique in Del Ray this weekend.

Bennett-Parker and Allie Rubinoff, who both live in Del Ray, will launch Little Chickadee with a pop-up event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday (June 13) at Gustave Boulangerie (2213 Mount Vernon Avenue). Bennett-Parker said that the boutique will operate mostly online from a space above Mulberry Lane.

Around Town

Good Spirit Cafe brings wellness, creative events to Eisenhower Avenue

By Katie Taranto

Published June 10, 2026 at 2:45PM

Good Spirit Cafe’s ribbon cutting (via Good Spirit Cafe/Facebook)

A local cafe with an emphasis on spirituality and artistic endeavors celebrated its grand opening in Eisenhower East over the weekend.

Good Spirit Cafe held a ribbon cutting during the second annual Eisenhower Block Party at 2361 Eisenhower Avenue on Saturday (June 6), commemorating its new presence in the neighborhood over the past few months.

Around Town

Boutiques to hold ‘Shop the Checkers’ to welcome Croatian team to Alexandria

By Emily Leayman

Published June 9, 2026 at 9:15AM

Croatian flag (via Niels Bosman/Unsplash)

In honor of the Croatian National Football Team making Alexandria its home base, boutiques in Old Town will be decked out in the Croatian checkered flag and offer specials inspired by the country.

Old Town Boutiques, a coalition of independently-owned boutiques in Old Town, will host Shop the Checkers Boutique Week from Sunday, June 14 through Sunday, June 28. Participating retailers will display special Croatian red-and-white checkerboard crest flags at their storefronts and offer experiences drawn from Croatian culture.

Around Town

Spice Kraft Indian Bistro dominates with top awards at Taste of Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published June 8, 2026 at 2:45PM

Spice Kraft won the top awards at the Taste of Del Ray, June 7, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Spice Kraft Indian Bistro‘s butter chicken pot pie and avocado bhel chaat won both the Judges’ Choice Award and the People’s Choice Award at the 17th annual Taste of Del Ray on Sunday (June 7).

Under a hot sun, 17 local restaurants competed at the sold-out event in the Mount Vernon Recreation Center athletic fields. This year’s celebrity judge was Todd O’Leary, CEO of Visit Alexandria.

Around Town

Owner of Bastille Brasserie and Bar launches new galetterie in Alexandria this week

By Katie Taranto

Published June 3, 2026 at 11:45AM

Galette Complete from Maison Breizh (courtesy of Maison Breizh)

The owner and chef behind a longtime French restaurant in Alexandria is introducing a new galetterie and crêperie in Alexandria this week.

Maison Breizh is a new concept launching behind Bastille Brasserie & Bar, with a “soft opening” starting tomorrow (June 4) at 1205 Pendleton Street. The galetterie’s eponymous menu item, the galette, is a French-style savory crepe made with a buckwheat-based batter.

Around Town

West End Business Association brings expanded ‘Best of the West’ festival to Ben Brenman Park

By Emily Leayman

Published June 2, 2026 at 3:45PM

Beeliner Diner at Best of the West in 2023 (via West End Business Association/Facebook)

The West End Business Association continues to look for ways to raise the visibility of West End businesses with its returning festival in a larger-than-ever format.

Best of the West will return for a third year from 12-6 p.m. Saturday, June 6 in Ben Brenman Park (4800 Brenman Park Drive) in the Cameron Station neighborhood. The free event will have restaurants and other business vendors, community organization booths, a Port City Brewing Company beer garden, arts and crafts and a live music stage. Ben Brenman Drive will be closed for booths leading up to the park’s gazebo.

Around Town

Thai Peppers to close after more than 27 years in Del Ray

By Emily Leayman

Published June 2, 2026 at 11:45AM

Thai Peppers Restaurant (via Google Maps)

Thai Peppers Restaurant will say farewell to Del Ray after more than 27 years.

The restaurant, located at 2018 Mount Vernon Avenue and dating back to 1998, announced it will have its final day of business on Monday, June 15. The owners cited their plans to retire and “hopefully relax on a beach in Phuket sipping Singhas and Mai Tais.”