local business | ALXnow

Shooter McGee’s reopens, some neighboring businesses remain closed following shopping center fire

Published April 1, 2025 at 1:30PM | Updated April 1, 2025 at 5:15PM

Shooter McGee's (5249 Duke Street) reopens after neighboring fire, April 1, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

With the odor of Sunday’s fire fading from a neighboring business, Shooter McGee’s (5249 Duke Street) reopened today (Tuesday).

A number of neighboring businesses have been closed since the Sunday morning (March 30) blaze in the 5200 block of Duke Street. AFD posted notifications outside the Blessed Smiles dental office at 5241 Duke Street and Hair Loom (5247 Duke Street) stating that the businesses were unsafe to occupy due to smoke and water damage. According to a staffer, the dental office expects to be closed for the rest of this week.

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King Street welcomes new doggy daycare facility

By James Cullum

Published March 27, 2025 at 6:00PM | Updated March 27, 2025 at 7:10PM

Axel runs at The Dog Park, 705 King Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

At the end of the day, dogs are tired at a new doggy daycare in Old Town.

After an extensive interior renovation of the second floor above The Dog Park at 705 King Street, the new owners have expanded their operations beyond pet supplies and grooming. The space was previously a bridal shop.

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WHOA: A single tower cake at Alexandria’s Beeliner Diner can feed 60 people

By James Cullum

Published March 24, 2025 at 12:30PM

Noelie Rickey, co-owner of the Beeliner Diner, makes a six-layer tower cake at her restaurant, March 21, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Any way you slice it, eating a tower cake at the Beeliner Diner is challenging, especially when a single piece can feed up to six people.

But what about baking one from scratch?

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published March 21, 2025 at 3:30PM | Updated April 19, 2025 at 3:12AM

9 E Del Ray Avenue listing on Zillow (photo via Zillow)

What a week in Alexandria. If we were making hay instead of paragraphs, the barn would be full.

Alexandria is bracing for the impact of President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt says that the school system is “deeply concerned” and that the action raises questions about future federal support.

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Smoking Kow BBQ on Duke Street scraps tipping policy and raises employee pay

By James Cullum

Published March 19, 2025 at 3:00PM

Food at Smoking Kow BBQ at 3250 Duke Street (staff photo by James Cullum)

Tired of tipping? Smoking Kow BBQ on Duke Street recently stopped asking customers for tips.

That’s right—after ordering burnt ends, spare ribs, sweet potatoes, and cornbread, customers are no longer prompted to tip by the restaurant’s electronic payment system, and the tip jar has also been removed.

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PHOTOS: Check out the interior renovations at La Madeleine in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published March 17, 2025 at 2:00PM | Updated March 24, 2025 at 9:18PM

La Madeleine e is back and brighter than ever in Old Town.

After briefly shutting down for a recent interior renovation, the French restaurant at 500 King Street reopened on Friday, March 14.

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Sichuan restaurant to open in Arlandria

By James Cullum

Published March 17, 2025 at 1:15PM

Chili Wok is coming to 3829 Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

A new Sichuan restaurant is opening soon in Arlandria.

Vienna-based Chili Wok is planning on expanding with a new location at 3829 Mount Vernon Avenue in the Del Ray North shopping center.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published March 14, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated April 19, 2025 at 3:13AM

Proposed renovations show a Van Leeuwen ice cream shop at 400 King Street (via City of Alexandria)

What a busy week it’s been in Alexandria.

Our top story was on big changes planned for 400 King Street in Old Town. The building takes over an entire city block and is currently home to The Alexandrian Old Town Hotel at 480 King Street and Southern restaurant King & Rye.

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Del Ray Farmhouse Market and Garden heading to City Council this Saturday

By James Cullum

Published March 11, 2025 at 3:00PM | Updated March 11, 2025 at 8:06PM

Rendering of outdoor space at Del Ray Farmhouse Market and Garden (image via Cozy Llama Design Co./City of Alexandria)

A special use permit to allow for the operation of a new garden center in Del Ray is heading to City Council this Saturday (March 15).

Jay Portlance, owner of Del Ray Hardware (2003 Mount Vernon Avenue), wants to soon open the Del Ray Farmhouse Market and Garden right across the street at 1913 Mount Vernon Avenue.

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Big changes planned for 400 King Street in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published March 10, 2025 at 5:00PM | Updated March 12, 2025 at 10:47PM

Proposed renovations show a Van Leeuwen ice cream shop at 400 King Street (via City of Alexandria)

Some big changes are being proposed at 400 King Street in Old Town.

The building takes over an entire city block and is currently home to The Alexandrian Old Town Hotel at 480 King Street and Southern restaurant King & Rye. The latter is undergoing an interior renovation and is serving a limited menu through the end of March.

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Mai Thai in Old Town wants to turn waterfront parking lot into outdoor dining area

By James Cullum

Published March 10, 2025 at 3:00PM

Parking spaces at 2 King Street (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

After years in limbo, a parking lot along Alexandria’s waterfront could be turned into an outdoor dining area for a local restaurant.

Mai Thai (6 King Street) last month submitted a request to the city to license four city-owned spaces in the eight-space parking lot in the rear of the building.