local business | ALXnow

Two Alexandria PR firms awarded top industry honors

Published October 1, 2025 at 3:30PM | Updated March 3, 2026 at 12:47PM

Two Alexandria firms were named to the PR Net 100 2025 on Sept. 17, 2025 (via Instagram)

Two Alexandria companies were recently honored with top public relations awards.

Spotted MP and Meraki Communications Group were named to the PR Net 100 2025, a distinction recognizing the top-performing firms in the world of public relations. The winners were presented with the awards on Sept. 17 in New York City, and chosen from a panel of experts, including L’Oréal Vice President Jackie Staub; Saba Landmann, a senior vice president for Marriott; Brian Strong, Bloomberg Media’s global head of communications; Jessica Stacey, a senior vice president for Sephora; and Colleen Leahy, an executive director with The Estee Lauder Companies.

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Alexandria businesses offer discounts for federal workers during government shutdown

By James Cullum

Published October 1, 2025 at 12:30PM | Updated October 1, 2025 at 12:54PM

via Made In ALX/Instagram

Several Alexandria businesses are offering discounts and freebies to federal employees affected by the government shutdown.

Made in ALX (415 King Street) is offering discounts on workshops, has items on sale, and is putting out one of their artists’ 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles for anyone to work on during regular business hours. “I’m in a federal family, and have gone through several shutdowns in the past,” Beth Lawton, a cofounder of Made In ALX, told us. “I know firsthand how stressful it is, and if we can make things easier on people affected this year, we’re happy to do that.”

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Alexandria restaurants offering ‘furlough freebies’ to impacted federal employees

By James Cullum

Published September 30, 2025 at 10:10PM

A pulled pork sandwich at Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray (via Facebook)

In the event of a government shutdown Wednesday, two Alexandria restaurants are offering impacted federal employees free food.

Pork Barrel BBQ (2312 Mount Vernon Avenue) and Sweet Fire Donna’s (510 John Carlyle Street) are offering a free pulled pork sandwich to federal employees who bring their IDs to the restaurant. The deal is limited to one sandwich per day per federal employee Monday through Friday. Both restaurants are owned by Bill Blackburn and “Mango” Mike Anderson of the Homegrown Restaurant Group.

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PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans cuts ribbon at new shop on N. Kings Highway

By James Cullum

Published September 30, 2025 at 5:30PM

(Left to right) Sofiya’s mother, Ron’s mother, Sofiya Parker, Ron Parker, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk, Chamber ALX CEO Joe Haggerty (courtesy photo)

There’s officially a new coffee shop in the Alexandria area.

The ribbon was cut at a new PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans franchise at 6220 N. Kings Highway, Alexandria (Fairfax County) on Saturday, Sept. 27. On hand at the event were owners Ron and Sofiya Parker, the family, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk, and Chamber ALX CEO Joe Haggerty. The coffee shop officially opened in July.

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Del Ray restaurant employee suspended after customer reports hidden bathroom camera

By James Cullum

Published September 30, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated October 2, 2025 at 3:20PM

Gustave Boulangerie and Brasserie at 2213 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (via Facebook)

The Alexandria Police Department is investigating a report that an employee at a popular Del Ray bistro recorded customers using the bathroom on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Karim Mashmour, the owner of Gustave Boulangerie & Brasserie (2213 Mount Vernon Avenue), states that the employee has been suspended pending the outcome of the APD’s investigation, while police indicate that it is an ongoing investigation and that no charges have been filed.

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Court continues The Garden’s eviction case to Oct. 10

By James Cullum

Published September 24, 2025 at 5:30PM

The Garden at 1503 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Alexandria General District Court held a preliminary hearing on Wednesday on the eviction lawsuit against the owners of a popular Beer Garden in Del Ray.

In late August, Jeremy Barber and Justus Frank, the owners of The Garden (1503 Mount Vernon Avenue) filed a lawsuit in the Alexandria Circuit Court against their landlord, who listed the property available for rent on Sept. 1. The landlord, Twenty-Third Street Corridor LLC, then filed an eviction lawsuit in General District Court. Barber and Frank want both cases heard simultaneously and contend that their case was filed before their landlord. The pair is trying to get their landlord’s case dismissed, and all parties will go back to General District Court on Friday, Oct. 10, Barber told ALXnow.

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Pak Soii Izakaya to hold menu preview popup before Del Ray opening

By James Cullum

Published September 23, 2025 at 11:00AM

Pak Soii Izakaya and Bar is hosting a pop-up at their sister restaurant Gin Ramen & Asian Tapas (500 John Carlyle Street) on Oct. 4 and 5, 2025 (courtesy image)

Pak Soii Izakaya and Bar is set to open in Del Ray, and will finalize its menu with a popup at their sister restaurant, Gin Ramen & Asian Tapas (500 John Carlyle Street), on Oct. 4 and 5.

“We need to get feedback from our customers,” owner Jay Chainam told ALXnow, and said that the offerings will include sushi, yakitori, highballs, and sake.

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Pampered Pet store and dog wash close in Belle Haven

By James Cullum

Published September 18, 2025 at 5:51AM

Pampered Pet Boutique & Barkery at 1612 Belle View Boulevard in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County is closed (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Pampered Pet Boutique & Barkery (1612 Belle View Boulevard) and its sister store Pampered Pet Bark Bath (1614 Belle View Boulevard) have permanently closed in the Belle View Shopping Center in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County.

The boutique opened in 2021, and the dog bath opened last year.

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Systems Planning and Analysis expansion into Alexandria leads this week’s top stories

By James Cullum

Published September 12, 2025 at 3:47PM

Officials cut a ribbon at Systems Planning & Analysis announcement on Sept. 11, 2025 (staff photo by Ryan Belmore)

Here’s a rundown of our top stories.

Our top story this week is on the Thursday, Sept. 11, announcement that Systems Planning and Analysis (SPA) will expand its Alexandria headquarters and create 1,200 new jobs over the next five years as part of a $46.9 million investment across Northern Virginia. The defense contractor bought, and will renovate, a 239,000-square-foot office building at 2001 N. Beauregard Street. Attendees at the announcement included Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay.

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Video: Inside Pupatella’s new Old Town North location opening Sunday

By James Cullum

Published September 12, 2025 at 3:15PM

(Left to right) Pupatella vice president Natasha Neely, managing partner Michael Berger and CEO Jim Biafore at the new location at 700 Slaters Lane in Old Town North (staff photo by James Cullum)

It takes about one minute to cook a pie in the 1000-degree oven at Pupatella Neapolitan Pizza, and ALXnow just got a sneak peek inside their newest location in Old Town North.

The new restaurant is the twelfth for the company, and has been in development for more than two years. It will officially open on Sept. 15. Today, (Sept, 12) Pupatella had a soft opening for special guests and the restaurant’s Managing Partner Michael Berger was at the opening today, and was joined by company CEO Jim Biafore and Vice President Natasha Neely. Biafore said that the opening feels like crossing the finish line.

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Del Ray’s Pak Soii Izakaya and Bar nears opening

By James Cullum

Published September 10, 2025 at 11:45AM

Japanese restaurant Pak Soii Izakaya & Bar is coming to 1909 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)

The owner of a new Japanese restaurant in Del Ray wants to open by the end of this month.

Pak Soii Izakaya and Bar (1909 Mount Vernon Avenue) has undergone an extensive interior renovation since owners Supattra Pummora and Jay Chainam signed a lease in April. While Chainam says that the restaurant will be ready by the end of the month, it could possibly open in October as he and his partner await final inspection approvals from the city.