Mount Vernon Avenue | ALXnow

Toppers Pizza closes ‘flagship’ location in Alexandria

Published February 6, 2023 at 1:15PM | Updated February 8, 2023 at 10:47AM

Toppers Pizza at 3827 Mount Vernon Avenue is permanently closed (staff photo by James Cullum)

Updated at 10:45 a.m. Toppers Pizza officially closed its doors at 3827 Mount Vernon Avenue last month and there is now only one of the Wisconsin-style pizza locations left in Virginia.

Toppers opened in 2017 to great fanfare in Arlandria, and was supposed to be the flagship location of a 22-store deal with locations popping up throughout Northern Virginia. In 2018, the second store opened at 6676 Richmond Highway in the Groveton area of Fairfax County, and it remains the only location in the state.

News

Bonaventure puts former Del Ray gas station and office space on market for $3.3 million

By James Cullum

Published January 23, 2023 at 11:00AM

Bonaventure has put 2903 Mount Vernon Avenue on the market (via Google Maps)

Bonaventure is pulling the plug on another of its properties in Del Ray. The Arlington-based real estate developer recently put its properties at 2903 Mount Vernon Avenue and 104 Hume Avenue for sale for a total of $3.3 million, according to a listing.

Bonaventure bought the two properties for $2.6 million in 2017. The two lots were proposed to be converted into an office building, but plans never materialized. The former Anthony’s Auto Center at 2901 Mount Vernon Avenue is 10,400 square feet, and was used as a spin studio, but closed down during the pandemic. It was assessed at $1.4 million in January 2022, and Bonaventure bought it for $1.6 million in 2017.

News

‘BARtanical’ is the latest pop-up bar in Del Ray, and its owners want to keep the pop-ups going

By James Cullum

Published January 20, 2023 at 10:15AM | Updated January 20, 2023 at 1:44PM

BARtanical is opening at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue by the end of January 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

BARtanical, a botanical and herbal inspired bar, will open as the newest pop-up at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray by the end of the month, its owners tell ALXnow.

The new bar is the fifth pop-up for the space, and owners Bill Blackburn and his partner “Mango” Mike Anderson of the Homegrown Restaurant Group have decided to keep going with the pop-up themes instead of opening a permanent restaurant.

News

TRAFFIC ALERT: Small sinkhole shuts down portion of Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published January 5, 2023 at 7:13PM | Updated January 5, 2023 at 7:50PM

The 1800 block of Mount Vernon Avenue was briefly closed due to a small sinkhole, Jan. 5, 2022 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Updated at 7:45 p.m. — The 1800 block of Mount Vernon Avenue has reopened after small sinkhole was discovered Thursday night.

The Alexandria Police Department shut down Mount Vernon Avenue between Duncan Avenue and E.Bellefonte Avenue at around 6:30 p.m. to await a representative from the city’s Department of Transportation and Environmental Services.

Around Town

Del Ray’s Candy Cane Bar Crawl is on Saturday

By James Cullum

Published December 9, 2022 at 11:05AM

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

An annual holiday bar crawl will work its way through Del Ray on Saturday.

The seventh annual Candy Cane Bar Crawl will be held from 12:30 to 6 p.m., and the event includes trolley transportation between bars, raffles, trivia, costume contests and swag bags.

News

VIDEO: Here’s the lighting of the Del Ray Christmas tree and menorah

By James Cullum

Published December 5, 2022 at 1:35PM

The Del Ray Christmas tree and menorah lighting, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

In case you missed it, the lighting of the Del Ray Christmas and menorah was packed on Sunday.

The evening was full of families and friends caroling with hot chocolate with marshmallows.

News

The Del Ray menorah and Christmas tree lightings are this Sunday

By James Cullum

Published November 30, 2022 at 9:55AM | Updated November 30, 2022 at 11:48AM

The Del Ray Christmas Tree will be lit on Dec. 4, 2022. (Via Facebook)

The Del Ray Menorah and Christmas tree lightings are back on Sunday.

Holiday carols will bring Santa Claus back to the neighborhood for the event, which starts at 6 p.m. at Pat Miller Neighborhood Square. The Avenue will also be lined with luminaries to honor the late Nancy Dunning.

News

JUST IN: Bonaventure backs out of mixed-use development at 2525 Mount Vernon Avenue

By James Cullum

Published November 8, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated November 22, 2022 at 10:46PM

Renderings of a proposed mixed-use shopping center at 2525 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (via Bonaventure)

Bonaventure is pulling the plug on its plan to convert the old Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services building at 2525 Mount Vernon Avenue into a four-story, mixed-use development.

Bonaventure’s attorney Cathy Puskar confirmed that the developer has put the project on hold indefinitely.

News

Postponed by Hurricane Ian, Art On The Avenue is back November 12

By James Cullum

Published November 7, 2022 at 2:15PM | Updated November 22, 2022 at 10:49PM

A 60% chance of rain might dampen this Saturday’s Art On The Avenue festival in Del Ray, but at least it’s not a hurricane.

Art On The Avenue was supposed to be held on Saturday, October 1, but was postponed due as the remnants of Hurricane Ian battered the East Coast. It was a good decision, since the entire weekend ended up being cold, wet and dreary in Alexandria.

News

Clay Queen Pottery closes on Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published October 31, 2022 at 2:15PM | Updated October 31, 2022 at 2:57PM

Clay Queen Pottery officially closed its doors last Monday, October 24.

The shop at 2303 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray is nearly vacant, and small renovations are being made to the building interior.

News

PHOTOS: Thousands marched in the Del Ray Halloween Parade

By James Cullum

Published October 31, 2022 at 10:45AM | Updated October 31, 2022 at 1:40PM

The Del Ray Halloween Parade on Sunday, October 30, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

It was crisp, clear on Sunday in Del Ray — perfect for the annual Del Ray Halloween Parade.

Thousands of kids and adults marched in costumes for the event, including members of the Alexandria City Council and the Alexandria City High School ‘Zombie Band’.