A new Thai restaurant has opened in Alexandria’s Oakville development, between Potomac Yard and Del Ray.
Dok Khao Thai Eatery is currently in a soft opening at 2514 Richmond Highway with an all-day, Thai street food-inspired menu with more than a dozen specials from owner and chef Porntipa Pattanamekar, also known as “Chef Pat.” The restaurant includes an all-day menu and full-service bar, with space for about 100 guests.
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.
The Commodore, a self-described “five-star dive bar,” is now open for business in Old Town.
Owners Rob Van de Graaff and Steve Kim used a huge trident to pierce the ribbon on their new bar and restaurant at 220 N. Lee Street yesterday (Thursday). It was an on-brand move for the business, which is filled with nautical decor.
Alexandrians can now get falafel with their cheesesteak, as a Falafel Inc. franchise soft-opened this week in the longtime home of the Philadelphia Cheesesteak Factory at 3060 Duke Street. Its new owner plans on running with both concepts, according to staff at the new restaurant.
The restaurant officially opened on Sunday, March 9. A grand opening event is currently in the works, but a date has not been set, staff told ALXnow.
A new restaurant self-described as a “five-star dive bar” will cut the ribbon at its new location in Old Town on Thursday.
The Commodore (220 N. Lee Street) is the second location for business partners Rob Van de Graaff and Steve Kim, who also own The Commodore in D.C.’s Dupont Circle. The space was previously home to Mystic BBQ & Grill, which closed last fall after being open for a year and a half. Before that, it was home to Myron Mixon’s Pitmaster BBQ.
A new wellness studio is expected to open this spring in Alexandria’s Braddock neighborhood.
The property at 800 N. Henry Street has undergone significant renovations to accommodate a new, 2,400-square-foot “KALM Studio.” The studio will feature three private saunas and a communal sauna, with plans to also host yoga and Pilates classes for up to 12 clients.
A new high-end fitness boutique plans to open early next month in Alexandria’s Carlyle neighborhood.
Owner Kenyatta Kavo is opening MuVe Studios on March 1 at 2050-B Ballenger Avenue, according to the fitness boutique’s Instagram page.
Whiskey from a new distillery in the West End will soon be sold at ABC stores in the city, the company’s owner tells ALXnow.
Motherwell Distilling Co. launched operations at 877 S. Pickett Street in December, led by business partners Vince and Marcy Crisler and Andrea and Adam Bennett. The new distillery, which is the first of its kind in Alexandria since the Prohibition era, now has its sights set on distribution.
Barnes & Noble is planning a new bookstore in the Shoppes at Foxchase.
The national book retailer hopes to open in Walgreens’ former space at 4515 Duke Street toward “the end of this year,” a spokesperson told ALXnow. The plans come as the company seeks to open at least 60 stores across the country in 2026, including a new multilevel bookstore that opened last month in D.C.
King Arthur Baking Company is eyeing Old Town to open a new retail store and baking school.
The Vermont-based company selling flour, bakeware and other baking supplies is planning to open a new store in Old Town “late this summer,” a company spokesperson told ALXnow.
A new sandwich and wine shop is opening this spring in the Bradlee Shopping Center.
Chord Bread and Bottle is planning to open at 2690 J King Street by the end of April, owner Scott Shirley told ALXnow. The vacant property, formerly Unwined wine shop, will first need to undergo interior renovations, he said.
