local business | ALXnow

The Ultimate Barber is Back and Booked Three Weeks in Advance

Published June 29, 2020 at 5:20PM

Disposable capes, face masks and meeting by appointment-only — The Ultimate Barber is back in business. The four-year-old shop at 2712 Richmond Highway is booked three weeks in advance, and shop owner John Hall says that’s to be expected during hard times.

“Hair is always going to grow,” Hall told ALXnow. “During the Great Recession, our business actually went up. Folks needed something nice to make me feel good. Something about that haircut experience makes you feel like a brand new person, a different person. It takes some of the weight off just for a while, anyway.”

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Alexandria Weekend Discussion

By James Cullum

Published June 26, 2020 at 5:15PM

It was a busy week in Alexandria, and there is plenty to talk about.

The city is moving forward with phase three of reopening its economy on July 1, and the news comes as the death toll from the coronavirus moved up to 50 and the number of cases steadily rise.

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Expecting Parents Turn to Old Town Midwife Service Amid Pandemic

By Vernon Miles

Published June 24, 2020 at 11:50AM

When the pandemic hit in March, many mothers late into their pregnancies who were preparing to give birth in a hospital were left with difficult decisions.

For BirthCare & Women’s Health, a midwife service in Old Town, that meant a new wave of parents looking for alternatives.

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Lights On: Two Nineteen Restaurant Reopening Today in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published June 23, 2020 at 10:20AM

Two Nineteen Restaurant in Old Town. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Get your cigar ready. After three months of being shut down, Two Nineteen Restaurant (219 King Street) is reopening its doors to the public at 4 p.m. today. The restaurant has undergone a renovation, too, thanks to receiving a Paycheck Protection Program loan back in April.

“It looks beautiful now,” Two Nineteen’s owner Patty Charoentra told ALXnow. “We’ve completely repainted the interior and repointed the brick. We also installed an air tap draft beer system, so your beer is going to be super cold.”

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Del Ray Pizza Restaurant Converts Parking Deck Into Tropical Oasis Themed Bar

By Vernon Miles

Published June 18, 2020 at 3:30PM | Updated June 18, 2020 at 4:51PM

(Updated 4:50 p.m.) There isn’t a lot of space inside Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap (401 E Braddock Road) to both reopen the restaurant to the half-capacity required in the second phase of reopening and maintain the take-out service, so restaurant operator Dave Nicholas said the restaurant decided to transform

“We decided that our to-go business is really strong,” Nicholas said. “Want to still be able to service neighborhood to-go. We decided to do a pop-up tent and concept on top of the parking deck behind the restaurant.”

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published June 18, 2020 at 9:00AM

Large Income Disparities in Alexandria — “White Alexandria is pulling in significantly more money than Hispanic workers and African Americans, according to numbers from the United States Census Bureau. A look at average income shows non-Hispanic whites make more than $85,000 a year. That’s more than three times the average income for Hispanic workers, $24,000, and more than twice the average income for black workers, $37,000.” [Gazette]

Water Taxi Returns to Old Town — “A face mask requirement and other safety measures are in place for the limited water taxi service.” [Patch]

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The Silver Parrot is Back in Business in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published June 17, 2020 at 4:45PM | Updated June 17, 2020 at 5:04PM

(Left to right) The Silver Parrot staffers Lisa Wylhite, Janet Cowley and Megan Vail at the newly opened shop in Old Town. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

On Monday, The Silver Parrot opened its doors after three months of being closed. The jeweler at 113 King Street is now open seven days a week, has updated its website for online sales — but the staff is a little concerned about the closing off of vehicular traffic on their block.

“It’s nice to be around people again,” store manager Megan Vail told ALXnow. “I live on my own, so it was like three months of talking to myself and my cats.”

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Visit Alexandria Highlights Local Black-Owned Businesses

By Vernon Miles

Published June 17, 2020 at 2:15PM

Brandon Byrd, owner of Goodies Frozen Custard & Treats in Old Town. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

As part of a series spotlighting local businesses, city-sponsored organization Visit Alexandria has put together a guide for Alexandrians trying to show more support for black-owned businesses in the city.

Restaurants spotlighted on the list are:

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Killer E.S.P. Employee Fundraiser Raises Over Twice its Goal After Widespread Backlash

By Vernon Miles

Published June 17, 2020 at 11:30AM | Updated June 17, 2020 at 11:56AM

Employees of local coffee shop Killer E.S.P. (1012 King Street) who quit in protest of controversial tweets made on the company’s social media have raised $5,119 in a GoFundMe campaign, more than twice the campaign’s initial $2,000 goal.

“Due to the recent issues that have come to light on social media, the employees who stayed and worked through this pandemic have all officially quit (as of 6/10/20),” the campaign organizers said on the page. “We made this decision despite not having other jobs lined up because we felt it would be in our best interest for various reasons. We are currently looking for new work opportunities, but for the time being, will not be receiving any income. We created this page for any support that regulars, friends, and/or family may be able to donate to help us bridge the gap between employment during this stressful time.”

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Alexandria Weekend Discussion

By James Cullum

Published June 12, 2020 at 5:15PM

A Black Lives Matter demonstration at the George Washington National Masonic Memorial in Old Town, June 4, 2020. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria had quite a week, and it’s time to look back as it comes to a close.

In addition to moving into the second phase of its economic recovery, there were a number of important events of interest, including the city council’s passage of an ordinance prohibiting firearms on city property, approved the creation of a police review board, continued expressions of support for the black community in the wake of the George Floyd Murder, and a renewed effort to rename T.C. Williams High School.

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Mayor and Health Department Urge Caution as Alexandria Moves into Phase 2 of Reopening

By James Cullum

Published June 12, 2020 at 3:25PM | Updated June 12, 2020 at 4:28PM

Enjoying the weather and outside seating on lower King Street in Old Town. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria formally moved into the second phase of its economic recovery today (Friday), and while some businesses are embracing the easing of restrictions, others are taking a slower approach.

Even though there was only one new reported case of coronavirus in the city today, Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson said that phase 2 does not mean that the city is out of the woods just yet.