The owners of a popular all-day brunch restaurant in Del Ray have a new concept with chicken on their minds.
Matthew Sloan and Eric Brannon are currently asking the city’s permission for 10 outdoor dining seats at their new restaurant, Little Birdie. The space at 1504B Mount Vernon Avenue was formerly occupied by Benny DiForza’s Pizza, which opened in February 2024 and closed last October.
A three-story Virginia Tech building in Old Town may soon be repurposed into a community center through the work of a Del Ray entrepreneur and creative.
Ashley R. Wood, the founder and author behind the arts-focused workspace Soulo Studios at 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue, is working to bring her next endeavor to life: Lily’s Garden Creative and Cultural Community Center. The prospective center, named after Wood’s 4-year-old daughter, would open at 1021 Prince Street, which is currently part of Virginia Tech’s Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center.
Three candidates vying for an open seat on City Council will participate in a forum Wednesday (March 25) in Alexandria’s West End.
ALXnow is moderating the West End Business Association forum, which will be held at Feru Bar and Restaurant (512 S. Van Dorn Street, Unit D) from 5-7 p.m. The free event is open to the public and will feature Democratic candidate Sandy Marks and independent candidates Alison O’Connell and former City Councilman Frank Fannon.
A new Thai restaurant has opened in Alexandria’s Oakville development, between Potomac Yard and Del Ray.
Dok Khao Thai Eatery is currently in a soft opening at 2514 Richmond Highway with an all-day, Thai street food-inspired menu with more than a dozen specials from owner and chef Porntipa Pattanamekar, also known as “Chef Pat.” The restaurant includes an all-day menu and full-service bar, with space for about 100 guests.
After a weather delay, a popular Del Ray pop-up bar’s next rendition is opening at the end of this month.
Owner Bill Blackburn told ALXnow that the Del Ray Dive at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue has everything a good dive bar needs, from fake wooden paneling to Alexandria memorabilia, and even a White Claw claw machine.
The owners of Matt and Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar (1501 Mount Vernon Avenue) have filed paperwork to open a sister location across the street in Del Ray.
Restaurant owners Matthew Sloan and Eric Brannon are asking the city for permission to allow 10 seats of outdoor dining for the space formerly occupied by Benny DiForza’s Pizza (1504B Mount Vernon Avenue) for a new restaurant named Little Birdie, according to their special use permit application.
The landlords of a popular beer garden in Del Ray have dropped their eviction lawsuit against their tenants.
Despite the win, Jeremy Barber and Justus Frank, the owners of The Garden (1503 Mount Vernon Avenue), are still suing their landlords at Twenty-Third Street Corridor LLC, and plan to go back to Alexandria Circuit Court in October.
The Commodore, a self-described “five-star dive bar,” is now open for business in Old Town.
Owners Rob Van de Graaff and Steve Kim used a huge trident to pierce the ribbon on their new bar and restaurant at 220 N. Lee Street yesterday (Thursday). It was an on-brand move for the business, which is filled with nautical decor.
A new restaurant self-described as a “five-star dive bar” will cut the ribbon at its new location in Old Town on Thursday.
The Commodore (220 N. Lee Street) is the second location for business partners Rob Van de Graaff and Steve Kim, who also own The Commodore in D.C.’s Dupont Circle. The space was previously home to Mystic BBQ & Grill, which closed last fall after being open for a year and a half. Before that, it was home to Myron Mixon’s Pitmaster BBQ.
Regulars at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub will soon have to get their fix somewhere else — temporarily.
Starting Monday, the coffeehouse at 2300 Mount Vernon Avenue will close for up to 10 days for interior renovations. Owner Larry Ponzi tells ALXnow that the project will give the coffee shop a fresh look.
Maurisa Potts’ award shelf is getting crowded.
Earlier this month, the founder and CEO of the Old Town-based Spotted MP marketing firm was named to the 2026 Virginia Black Leaders list by Virginia Business magazine. The award is the latest in a string of honors for Potts, who last fall was named to the PR Net 100 2025, a recognition for the top-performing firms in the world of public relations and well as MarComms Most Influential by the same outlet.
