local business | ALXnow

Grammy winners and other stars send in letters supporting The Birchmere’s new electric sign

Published March 8, 2023 at 3:30PM | Updated March 8, 2023 at 4:12PM

New sign at The Birchmere (image via City of Alexandria)

Chris Issak, John Waters and Judy Collins are just a few of the dozens of famous artists who petitioned the Alexandria Planning Commission and City Council to approve The Birchmere‘s Special Use Permit request to keep up its flashy new 5-foot-by-2.5-foot digital sign along Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria.

The Planning Commission approved the request 7-0 on Tuesday, and it now goes to City Council. Planning Commission Chair Nathan Macek said that the letters with all of the supporting signatures would be “an excellent auction item.”

News

PHOTOS: The 2023 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published March 6, 2023 at 3:30PM | Updated March 6, 2023 at 4:43PM

Handing out flags at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Old Town, March 3, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Old Town was packed on Saturday morning for Alexandria’s 40th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Thousands of visitors lined King Street to watch a procession of more than 2,000 participants, including Irish dancers, historic reenactors and the City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums. The festivities also included a car show and a dog show at Market Square outside City Hall.

News

Old Town Business holding additional forums for its proposed Business Improvement Service District

By James Cullum

Published March 3, 2023 at 10:55AM

Map of the proposed Old Town Business Improvement Service District (via Old Town Business)

With the clock running down on a rushed timeline, Old Town Business (OTB) is conducting more outreach sessions today, Friday, on its proposed business improvement district.

The group conducted information sessions yesterday (Thursday) and scheduled one for this morning and another for 1 p.m. along the ALX Community Waterfront at 201 N. Union Street.

Opinion

Poll: What do you think of proposed Old Town Business Improvement District?

By Vernon Miles

Published February 17, 2023 at 1:45PM | Updated February 17, 2023 at 3:22PM

A cloudy day in Old Town (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Earlier this week, Old Town Business debuted new plans for a Business Improvement District along King Street.

The new effort comes after multiple earlier efforts to get a BID launched for Old Town, but BID proponents highlighted at a meeting earlier this week that this effort will be different.

News

Seichou Karate fighting to survive Old Town North development plans

By Vernon Miles

Published February 14, 2023 at 3:45PM

Richard Romero, founder of Seichou Karate (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Seichou Karate Old Town was born in the 2007 Recession and adapted to survive the 2020 Covid pandemic, but after 16 years in the heart of Old Town North, it may not survive the neighborhood’s development boom.

Seichou Karate is one of a dozen stores at the Montgomery Center (807 North Royal Street) in Old Town North. The squat building sits at the heart of a rapidly developing area of the city. Carr Companies purchased the building and announced redevelopment plans last year.

News

Vehicle smashes through front window of Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Bradlee Shopping Center

By James Cullum

Published February 14, 2023 at 1:15PM

A vehicle smashed through the front window of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe in the Bradlee Shopping Center, Feb. 14, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A car smashed through the front window of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe (3610-G King Street) in the Bradlee Shopping Center this morning.

No one was injured in the crash, which occurred just after 8 a.m., and closed the business for the day. The driver stayed on-scene and wasn’t charged, according to a store manager

News

Nicole McGrew becomes first Black woman to chair Alexandria’s chamber of commerce

By James Cullum

Published February 14, 2023 at 10:45AM

Nicole McGrew, a business owner and new chair of Chamber ALX, during an event on Feb. 9, 2023 (via ChamberALX)

The new chair of the Chamber ALX says that she will focus on supporting local businesses and making the organization more resourceful.

Nicole McGrew, owner of Threadleaf & Company, celebrated officially taking over as chair during a chamber event Thursday night held in the visitor’s center of George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate. Her term officially began Jan. 1.

News

Man arrested for allegedly stealing credit cards from Alexandria businesses

By James Cullum

Published February 9, 2023 at 1:30PM

Police car lights (file photo)

An Alexandrin man with a long history of credit card theft has been arrested after a string of recent incidents at local businesses in the city.

The 60-year-old suspect was arrested on Feb. 4, and is being held without bond on numerous credit card theft charges, as well as other larceny charges.

News

Landini Brothers is expanding into the former Silver Parrot jewelry shop on King Street

By James Cullum

Published February 8, 2023 at 2:30PM | Updated February 9, 2023 at 9:42AM

Landini Brothers is expanding to 113 King Street in Old Town (via Google Maps)

Landini Brothers (115 King Street) plans on converting a neighboring property at 113 King Street into an exclusive three-story members-only area by the end of spring/beginning of summer, the restaurant’s owner tells ALXnow.

Noe Landini says that the final permit approvals with the City are pending but to expect an 18-week construction schedule. The property at 113 King Street is the former longtime home of The Silver Parrot jewelry shop, which closed in 2021, and the America! shop.

News

‘Bloomers’ boutique moving to new King Street location

By James Cullum

Published January 26, 2023 at 3:30PM

Bloomers will open at 706 King Street in March 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

After 15 years, Bloomers (924 King Street) is moving to a new location on King Street in the first week of March, it’s owner tells ALXnow.

Bloomers owner Nicole White says knew that the lease her shop at 924 King Street was expiring in 2023 when she bought the business in 2018.

News

Village Brauhaus in Old Town aims to open rooftop expansion before summer

By Vernon Miles

Published January 26, 2023 at 1:45PM

Diagram showing planned rooftop extension at Village Brauhaus (image via Mark R. Yoo Architect PLLC/City of Alexandria)

When it comes to city permitting: it pays to play it safe.

Old Town restaurant Village Brauhaus (710 King Street) is going back through the city review process to double-check that it’s still alright to open a rooftop dining area after the restaurant changed ownership.