Scott Shaw equates the COVID-19 experience to a Greek tragedy with a beginning, middle and end. Right now, he says, we’re in the middle and looking forward to the third act — a period of eventual recovery.
Shaw, a partner with Alexandria Restaurant Partners, says that his company is similar to a lot of other restaurant companies looking at an uncertain winter on the horizon.
Yesterday, Killer E.S.P. (1012 King Street) manager Mary Gmaz decided she’d had enough.
Gmaz said a recent encounter with owner Rob Shelton left her rattled and she decided to walk out immediately. The rest of the staff left with her, leading to the second mass-quitting among the local coffee shop’s staff this year.
Via Volcán Coffee Roastery Opens in Old Town — “Although the global pandemic slowed them down, the McCauslands finally opened their store this month at 110 S. West St. (the former location of VIP Pet). They are excited to share their passion for coffee in a physical space.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]
How Will Small Businesses in Alexandria Survive? — “Amy Rutherford, the owner of Penny Press & Red Barn Mercantile, has been brainstorming since July for new ways to make the holidays simple and safe for her clients. This year, she is adding delivery, gift wrap, and gift boxes to her list of services.” [Local DMV]
What a week full of news in Alexandria.
With city offices closed due to Veterans Day on Wednesday, there were still a number of big stories.
Alexandria Restaurant Partners has filed a special use permit request to buy the old Charlie’s on the Avenue restaurant in Del Ray and turn it into a concept called “Joe’s Kitchen.”
The SUP was sent in to the city on Nov. 5, and the last day for public comments is Nov. 26.
Sometimes buying an existing business is easier than starting from scratch.
We took a look through Alexandria listings of the website BizBuySell and found a number of businesses for sale. Many are restaurants, which have been heavily impacted the last several months due to the pandemic.
Outdoorsy supply store Patagonia has opened in Old Town, according to signs on the door.
The new location opened inside the historic Old Town Theater at 815 King Street. The store was originally scheduled to open in the spring before… well, you know.
Elderly resident rescues dog walker pinned under 500-pound headstone — “When Suzanne Dalton went out to walk her dog in Bethel Cemetery… one fall afternoon, the last thing she expected was to have a literal brush with death. After a headstone fell on her arm and pinned her to the ground, Charles Nelson, an 89-year-old Alexandria resident, came to her assistance and lifted the 500-pound stone up just enough for her to escape.” [Alex Times]
Beyer Says Trump is Being ‘Theatrical’ — “Refusing to initiate a peaceful transition of power in the middle of a deadly pandemic because he’s being theatrical.” [Twitter]
After a year of waiting to open, Double Apple Lounge at 5101 Seminary Road is adapting to the pandemic.
The hookah lounge opened a little less than two months ago and took its Indian food menu out of its inside operations. Instead the food is prepared outside in a trailer, leaving customer with the option to eat outside or inside.
With parades, festivals and even the Christmas tree lighting in Old Town all impacted by COVID-19, the holiday season will be dramatically different for Alexandria business owners.
Bearing that in mind, Visit Alexandria just announced Alexandria Shop Small Week, a new virtual promotional series from Nov. 27 to Dec. 6 with deals and giveaways to help make up for losses to this year’s post-Thanksgiving period of holiday shopping.
In the market to buy a business? Sometimes it can be easier than starting from scratch.
We took a look through Alexandria listings of the website BizBuySell and found a number of businesses for sale. Many are restaurants, which have been heavily impacted the last several months due to the pandemic.
