Around Town

Crooked Beat Records will officially close its Del Ray location Sunday, May 3, following the adverse effects of flooding earlier this year.

Owner Bill Daly said in a social media post he has tried to stay in Alexandria and has placed bids on several rental properties in and around the city, though there is a chance the business could move outside Alexandria.


Around Town

Del Ray Public House unveiled its new branding this week, officially moving on from its 16-year-old Del Ray Pizzeria concept.

The Del Ray Pizzeria initials remain on the signage at 2218 Mount Vernon Avenue, and pizza stays on the menu, but the overall focus of the business started changing in January with the introduction of new Southwest-inspired flavors, owner Laurel Fisher told ALXnow.


Around Town

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.


Around Town

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.


Around Town

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.


News

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.


Around Town

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.


Around Town

Crooked Beat Records is reopening at its location on Mount Vernon Avenue with limited hours through the end of April, the store announced yesterday (Monday) on social media.

The store at 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue closed after flooding on Jan. 11, and has since been selling merchandise at pop-ups. The store plans to reopen Thursday, Feb. 26, and will remain open on Thursdays from 3-6:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 1:30-6:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1-5:30 p.m.


Around Town

After being open for less than a year, a Japanese restaurant in an Arlandria shopping center has merged with a fusion restaurant two doors down.

Signs on the window of the Sake Express Japanese Hibachi (3827 Mount Vernon Avenue) direct customers to get their favorite dishes at the Vietnamese-Japanese fusion restaurant 2D Noodles, which serves pho, sushi, and now, hibachi dishes.


Around Town

Del Ray Hardware was declared the winner of the annual Heart of Del Ray Award on Friday morning.

Hundreds of people voted in the Del Ray Business Association’s annual popularity contest for businesses. Store owner Jay Portlance received an oversized heart to display for a year, symbolizing the store’s place in the community.


News

Alexandria’s Pat Malone is kicking off another year of standing up to cancer.

Starting at 4:26 p.m. today (Tuesday), Malone, a cancer survivor and Air Force veteran, will stand for 24 hours straight at Pork Barrel BBQ (2312 Mount Vernon Avenue) for his 12th annual Stand Up To Cancer fundraiser. Malone estimates that he’s raised more than $100,000 for cancer research over the past 11 years.


View More Stories