local business | ALXnow

Alexandria modern furniture designer asking city for after-the-fact approval of shipping containers converted into showroom

Published March 19, 2024 at 2:40PM

Portable shipping containers have been converted into a showroom for Daniel Donnelly Modern Design at 80 S. Early Street (courtesy wonder101.com)

Imagine opening the French doors of your portable home at whatever backdrop you desire. The possibilities of portable architecture are the latest obsession of Alexandria furniture designer Daniel Donnelly.

Donnelly’s asking for an after-the-fact special use permit approval for three large taupe-colored Marine shipping containers at the entrance to his workshop at 80 S. Early Street. The modern furniture design business is located an industrial area of the city near police headquarters, and the open-sided containers were installed during the pandemic as a showroom for prospective customers.

News

New spa featuring massages, microblading and more opens on Duke Street

By Vernon Miles

Published March 15, 2024 at 1:50PM | Updated March 18, 2024 at 12:13AM

As the old saying goes: when one spa closes, another one opens.

While Windsor of Old Town is closing this month after 43 years in Alexandria, a new business called Spa180 Prestige has opened at 2813 Duke Street. The spa also has a large parking area on-site.

News

Busy sandwich shop in Torpedo Factory building could get outdoor seating soon

By Vernon Miles

Published March 6, 2024 at 3:45PM

Inside of Union Sandwich Co. (image via Andrew Wolfe/Facebook)

A new outdoor seating area at Union Sandwich Company (101 N. Union Street) could both alleviate overcrowding in the store and give visitors a new place to sit and enjoy Old Town.

The sandwich shop owner filed a special use permit with the City of Alexandria to add three tables with four seats each and some planters and rope to delineate the area.

News

Fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant La’Baik opening soon in Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published March 5, 2024 at 10:45AM

La'Baik, a Mediterranean restaurant, is coming to 2309 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (via Instagram)

Mediterranean restaurant La’Baik should open in the next several weeks in the former Rubia’s Tacos at 2309 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray, its owner tells ALXnow.

Rubia’s, which was previously Stomping Ground for eight years, closed in January, and new restaurant owner Mohammad Abdel-Hay is keeping the interior and equipment and tables and chairs as-is, only changing the menu, staff and signage.

News

Alexandria’s ‘Mango’ Mike Anderson is grand marshal of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade

By James Cullum

Published February 28, 2024 at 9:40AM

Dave Mammel (on left) and Mango Mike Anderson in front of their 1962 Aistream, which has been converted into a photo booth, at First Thursday in Del Ray, July 7, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

He’s not remotely Irish, but Alexandria restaurant owner “Mango” Mike Anderson is the grand marshal of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday.

A local celebrity of sorts, Anderson will lead the parade down King Street and to the reviewing stand on Royal Street in the heart of Old Town.

News

Mason and Greens closed in Old Town

By Vernon Miles

Published February 26, 2024 at 2:45PM | Updated February 27, 2024 at 9:47AM

Mason and Greens in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Updated 2/27: Justin Marino, owner of Mason and Greens, reached out to ALXnow. Marino said:

We would like to thank the community, the City and all who have supported our small business over the years. We had a good run, and hope we introduced you to new items that are good for you and the planet, and different ways to live a cleaner and better life. We will miss our customers the most, the Mason & Greens family wishes you the best, and much success in your journey to a more sustainable future!

News

Del Ray’s Hi/Fi Tex Mex BBQ needed after-the-fact permission to cook food, now they need it for their sign

By James Cullum

Published February 15, 2024 at 3:30PM

The owners of Hi/Fi Tex Mex in Del Ray are asking for after-the-fact approval of their sign (via City of Alexandria)

After getting after-the-fact permission from City Council to use their outdoor smoker, Del Ray’s Hi/Fi Tex Mex BBQ is now asking after-the-fact for approval of their electric sign.

The restaurant opened in the backyard of Evening Star Cafe (2000 Mount Vernon Avenue) in 2022, and got after-the-fact permission from the City Council to operate their outdoor smoker grills, despite complaints from neighbors. Last December, Washington Post food critic Tim Carman labeled the restaurant as one of the top ten best casual restaurants in the region.

News

There’s a gondola outside the ‘Aspen on the Avenue’ popup in Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published February 15, 2024 at 10:45AM

The gondola outside Aspen on the Avenue at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)

There’s nothing like numbing your aching body with a hot toddy after a long day on the slopes.

That’s the vibe that the owners of the Aspen on the Avenue popup (2312 Mount Vernon Avenue) have in mind. There’s a two-seat gondola parked outside the restaurant and bar greeting customers as they walk into a warm environment with a fake fireplace, a fake brick wall, lots of skis and two giant backlit photos of idyllic snowy scenes.

News

Alcohol and outdoor seating could be coming to a popular new Del Ray pizza spot

By Vernon Miles

Published February 12, 2024 at 3:55PM

Benny Diforza's Pizza at 1504B Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)

New pizza restaurant Benny Diforza’s (1504B Mount Vernon Avenue) has been popular since opening last week. The restaurant was well attended this weekend, and according to an application with the City of Alexandria, there could be more space for diners soon.

Benny Diforza’s is part of a Benny’s Pizza chain with locations across Virginia, the Carolinas, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wyoming.

News

Three Alexandria restaurants make Washingtonian food editor’s list of 19 favorite pizzas right now

By James Cullum

Published February 12, 2024 at 1:45PM

Stracci Pizza at 106 Hume Avenue in Del Ray (via Stracci PIzza/Facebook)

Washingtonian recently included three Alexandria restaurants in their food critic’s list of 19 favorite pizzas right now.

Washingtonian’s Executive Food Editor Ann Limpert included in her list “Stracci Bianca” at Stracci Pizza (106 Hume Avenue), the vodka pizza at Emmy Squared (124 King Street) and the white clam Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana (3231 Duke Street).

News

Old Town Deli converting to Capo Italian Deli

By Vernon Miles

Published February 7, 2024 at 11:05AM

Old Town Deli at 109 N. Washington Street will be joining the regional chain Capo Italian Deli sometime over the next month.

A special use permit was filed with the City of Alexandria to rebrand the deli as Capo Deli. The Alexandria location will be the second Capo Deli location in Virginia after one in Tysons.