local business | ALXnow

Braddock ‘Elizabeth’s Counter’ Last of Regional Chain After Bankruptcy Filing

Published September 1, 2020 at 4:45PM

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing has left Elizabeth’s Counter in Alexandria as the last vestige of the once powerful ring of regional Sugar Shack locations, according to the Washington Business Journal.

Months after Sugar Shack owner Rob Krupicka unveiled ambitious plans to convert the Northern Virginia and D.C. locations from donut shop Sugar Shack into a new restaurant called Elizabeth’s Counter, Krupicka told WBJ that the pandemic drove down sales and forced him to close locations in Arlington and Washington D.C.

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Karaoke is Happening at Rock It Grill, But No Dancing

By James Cullum

Published August 26, 2020 at 2:45PM | Updated August 26, 2020 at 3:13PM

The pool tables are gone, there’s no dancing and everything is spread out, but singing karaoke at the Rock It Grill is still going strong with some new additional safety features.

“Our regular Rock It customers are beyond wonderful,” said owner Laura Seiss. “As far as employees that are back, everybody who wanted to work is working.”

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School of Rock Alexandria Making Beautiful Music During Pandemic

By James Cullum

Published August 26, 2020 at 11:45AM | Updated August 26, 2020 at 12:54PM

The “Modern Rock Camp” at School of Rock Alexandria (3260 Duke Street) has plexiglass screens, and on a recent August afternoon the band “Horses Ate My Dad” broke their long silence and played a virtual gig.

The kids were safe distances apart and played with face masks.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published August 26, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated August 26, 2020 at 9:59AM

Alexandria Woman Finds Missing $100K Lottery Ticket — “Four months ago she purchased a ticket using some of her favorite numbers, 2-14-15-17-21, and matched all five winning numbers on March 1, but she only just discovered that fact when she cleaned out her purse recently.” [Zebra]

Beyer Says Economic Warning Signs Troublesome — “It’s been a month since Senate Republicans cruelly allowed Americans’ enhanced unemployment benefits to expire amid a pandemic and economic crisis. Don’t be fooled by the stock market: millions of families are experiencing deep hardship. Warning signs for the economy abound.” [Twitter]

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Proposed Regulatory Changes Cut Back Red Tape for Alexandria Businesses

By Vernon Miles

Published August 24, 2020 at 12:00PM

The city is proposing a series of changes that could cut through the red tape for some local businesses needing to adapt quickly to survive the slow recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

At the upcoming Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, September 1, the Department of Planning & Zoning will propose changes to reduce the number of Special Use Permit (SUP) approvals that require public hearings or administrative reviews. The goal is to increase the the number of commercial uses that could in a shorter time frame.

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Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published August 24, 2020 at 9:00AM

Missing Man Found and Returned Home — “Mr. Walter ‘George’ Winstead has returned home safe and without incident.” [Facebook]

Beyer Says Trump Colluded With Russians — “The Trump campaign was offered Russian government assistance. The Trump campaign sought Russian government assistance. The Trump campaign received Russian government assistance. Trump campaign personnel coordinated efforts with Russian intelligence operatives and Wikileaks.” [Twitter]

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ALXnow’s Top Stories This Week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published August 21, 2020 at 4:45PM | Updated August 21, 2020 at 5:27PM

Alexandria has put another summer work week to rest.

As the City Council enjoys a legislative break, the School Board conducted a virtual meeting to discuss the renaming process for T.C. Williams High School. Superintendent Gregory Hutchings, Jr., and the board advocate a public engagement process that could result in the board voting to change the name this December, followed by a vote on a specific name next spring. A group of community activists, however, believe that the name should be taken off immediately, since ACPS acknowledged Williams was an avowed racist and segregationist.

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Saunas and Ice Baths: A New Coworking Office Focusing on Wellness Opens in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published August 20, 2020 at 2:15PM | Updated August 21, 2020 at 3:54PM

The Loop coworking space at 215 N. Payne Street in Old Town offers the amenities you expect out of such an office, and some you won't expect. (Courtesy photo)

Need a quick sweat in the office sauna before an upcoming meeting? How about an ice bath? For folks tired of working from home, a new coworking office just opened in Old Town with amenities focused on wellness.

Real estate developer Christopher Campagna was ready to open The Loop at 215 N. Payne Street back in March, but then the pandemic struck and it pushed back his plans. He was all set for a virtual opening when George Floyd was killed and the city experienced a period of social unrest, and so he pushed the opening to late summer.

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Climbing Gym Sportrock Holding On for Dear Life Through Pandemic Recovery

By Vernon Miles

Published August 20, 2020 at 2:00PM

Interior climbing gym amid pandemic (photo courtesy Kian McKellar/Sportrock)

An Alexandria climbing gym is surviving by its fingertips amid a slow recovery.

“We are talking about a year of survival,” said Sportrock spokesperson Sean Taft-Morales, “not a year of thriving.”

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Affordable Housing Communities to Get Free Wood-Fired Pizza the Next Two Saturdays in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published August 20, 2020 at 11:30AM

An Arlington nonprofit has partnered with a D.C. food truck to provide free pizza to affordable housing communities in Alexandria this month.

This is the fifth local campaign for Hearts of Empowerment, which has partnered with Timber Pizza Company to provide free wood-fired pizzas from its food truck on August 22 at Charles Houston Recreation Center (901 Wythe Street) in Old Town at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 22, and at the same time at the Parkview of Alexandria apartments in Arlandria on Saturday, August 29.

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West End Computer Repair Shop LapFix Sees Business Spike During Pandemic

By James Cullum

Published August 19, 2020 at 2:45PM | Updated August 19, 2020 at 3:36PM

Karim Hussen’s business is spiking. With more customers working from home on personal laptops, the owner and staff of LapFix (4613 Duke Street) have their hands full recovering data and fixing personal computers and phones.

“We are busier now than ever, because everyone needs cameras for their computers and webcams for Zoom chats,” Hussen recently told ALXnow. “Of all things it’s webcams. Thankfully we are an essential business, according to the Commonwealth of Virginia, so I’m thankful that we never closed.”