local business | ALXnow

Morning Notes

Published January 6, 2020 at 8:00AM | Updated January 6, 2020 at 11:21PM

The plaza at City Hall in Old Town (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Local Donut Shop Donating to Charity — “Sugar Shack Donuts & Coffee of Alexandria, 804 N. Henry Street, is celebrating five years of yummy donuts, smiles and positive community engagement in January by donating five cents for every donut sold to ACT for Alexandria, the community foundation.” [Zebra]

History Museum Hosting Documentary Screening — “On Sunday, January 12, 2020, the Alexandria Black History Museum will premiere a free screening at 3 p.m. of the new documentary exploring Alexandria segregation. A very special collection of dollhouses depict Alexandria segregation in ‘Our Alexandria’ the new documentary by Emmy award-winning local filmmaker, Robin Hamilton.” [Zebra]

News

‘Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe’ in Old Town Goes to Planning Commission Next Month

By Vernon Miles

Published December 23, 2019 at 12:00PM

The new cat cafe that has the town talking is going up to the Planning Commission for approval early next month.

The Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe is slated to open at 109 S. Alfred Street and offer both a place to drink and play with adoptable cats.

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West End Business Association Celebrates 15th Birthday

By Vernon Miles

Published December 20, 2019 at 11:45AM

The West End Business Association (WEBA) just celebrated 15 years of promoting businesses across Alexandria’s increasingly developed West End.

The organization was founded in 2005. Wendy Albert, owner of Tempo Restaurant (4231 Duke Street) and former president of WEBA, hosted the birthday celebration at her restaurant.

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Morning Notes

By ALXnow.com

Published December 20, 2019 at 7:30AM

Freedom House to Expand — “An expansion of the Freedom House Museum and renovations to the historic building it is in are in the works. Earlier this year, the Northern Virginia Urban League put the historic townhouse at 1315 Duke St. it owns up for sale for $2.1 million, after going through a difficult period keeping up payments on the property.” [Alexandria Living]

Former NFL Cheerleader Opens Salon — “From a loft-like space off a busy street in Alexandria, Stephanie Prinzbach runs the one-woman-show that is District Chic Hair Co., providing hair styling to over 115 customers spanning from Washington, DC to Richmond.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]

News

Hot Cocoa Bar and More at Ugly Sweater Party Tonight in Old Town

By Vernon Miles

Published December 17, 2019 at 11:30AM

fibre space at 1319 Prince Street

Where better to celebrate the ugly sweaters so associated with Christmas than Alexandria’s yarn store Fibre Space?

At a free event tonight (Tuesday) from 608 p.m. at Fibre Space (1319 Prince Street), guests can either wear their ugly sweaters or finish working on their sweaters with friends.

News

Sex Shop Pulls Out of Old Town

By Vernon Miles

Published December 17, 2019 at 9:30AM

Le Tache on King Street closed (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Le Tache’s 210 King Street location opened ten years ago as something of a controversial prank — a prank chronicled by the New York Times, no less. But after a long stay in Old Town the “couples boutique” has finally closed.

The store offered a variety of explicit accessories, from lingerie to… well, we’ll tell you when you’re older. It was a large store that occupied multiple floors of a historic, brick building near the waterfront. The interior has been emptied, however, and a sign has been posted in the window saying the building is available for rent.

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Alexandria Chamber of Commerce Embraces ‘ALX’

By Vernon Miles

Published December 16, 2019 at 2:00PM

(Updated at 2:10 p.m.) Last week the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce unveiled a new look for the brand that includes a shift towards “ALX” as a moniker for Alexandria, like all the cool kids are doing.

At a meeting on Dec. 10, the group unveiled a new logo that shortens the organization’s monicker to The Chamber ALX.

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Elected Officials Visit Alexandria Businesses to Discuss Paid Family and Medical Leave

By Vernon Miles

Published December 16, 2019 at 11:45AM

Rep. Don Beyer (left) and State Sen. Jennifer Boysko (right) with Lori Leetz, owner of Lori's Table (center) (photo courtesy Women Effect Fund)

Three elected officials visited businesses across Alexandria as part of an effort to drum up support for a paid family and medical leave bill.

Rep. Don Beyer, Del. Carroll Foy and State Sen. Jennifer Boysko — all Democrats — visited three businesses on Friday (Dec. 13) and spoke with business owners who were supportive of the bill. The trio visited Lori’s Table (1028 King Street), Bishop’s Boutique (815 King Street) and Let’s Meat on the Avenue (2403 Mount Vernon Avenue).

News

Yates Pizza Palace May Finally Open Next Summer Along Duke Street

By Vernon Miles

Published December 13, 2019 at 3:20PM | Updated December 13, 2019 at 4:54PM

Yates Pizza Palace (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

(Updated 4:45 p.m.) If everything goes to plan, husband and wife team Jeffrey Jr. and Kelly Yates may finally be able to open the pizza restaurant that’s been “opening soon” since early 2014.

The dream of Yates Pizza Palace started in 2014 when Jeffrey Yates Sr., owner of the Yates Car Wash and recent purchaser of Table Talk (1623 Duke Street), purchased the space on the 3000 block of Duke Street that had been local pizza and pasta institution Generous George’s.

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Del Ray Restaurant Embraces Every Alexandria Controversy in a New Contentious Sandwich

By Vernon Miles

Published December 13, 2019 at 10:30AM

Holy Cow Del Ray has taken all of the outrage and fury of Alexandria’s most controversial issues and put them between two buns.

The restaurant at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue announced its new “burger of the moment,” the Seminary Road-Dockless Scooter-Waterfront Development-Halal Butcher-Bike Lane Sandwich, on Facebook.

News

Candy Cane Bar Crawl Through Del Ray This Weekend

By Vernon Miles

Published December 12, 2019 at 9:30AM

2018 Candy Cane Bar Crawl (via Del Ray Candy Cane Bar Crawl/Facebook)

The 4th annual Del Ray Candy Cane Bar Crawl will bring holiday revelers to Mount Vernon Avenue this weekend.

From 1-6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, fifteen restaurants across Del Ray will have specials on holiday cocktails and beers. Raffles, a costume contest, and a photo booth are planned for different restaurants, with trolley transportation connecting the different venues.