Cristian Velasco says he might be crazy, but even as other local businesses are closing, he’s still hoping to open a new gelato spot in Del Ray (2400 Mt. Vernon Avenue) by August.
“I got the permits going through last week,” Velasco said. “Some revisions are pending, I don’t know how long that will be, but I’m thinking maybe [we’ll open] by the end of August.”
In a rare bright spot of 2020, the highly-anticipated Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe and Wine Bar (109 S. Alfred Street) announced on social media that progress is continuing slowly but surely.
“Construction at Mount Purrnon is currently ongoing and it’s starting to look great,” owners Kristin and Adam said in a Facebook post. “The work crew is small (but very talented) and all available health precautions are being taken.”
Inova Hospital System Needs Blood Donations — “Starting this week, over 1,400 blood donors will be needed each week to make lifesaving donations. One blood donation can save up to three lives! Schedule your lifesaving donation with Inova Blood Donor Services online at www.inovabloodsaves.org or call 1-866-BLOODSAVES.” [Facebook]
Video: Alexandria Firefighters Thank Health Care Workers — “Station 203 members made a quick stop at Envoy of Alexandria today to thank healthcare workers.” [Facebook]
A new deli is in the works for a building on S. Washington Street that was once Union officers’ quarters during the Civil War.
The site is planned to be turned into Delicious Deli Inc., a full-service, 1,600 square foot restaurant. The restaurant will be a neighbor to Ally & Indy Pet Boutique, which shares the ground floor of the double-house.
The Gables Old Town North/EDEN project (525 Montgomery Street) is bringing a new suite of retail, restaurants and services to North Old Town.
The new openings at the development are planned to be staggered across the next few months, however, so nearby residents will have to wait a little longer for some of the new spots listed as “coming soon.”
The owner of a new Vietnamese restaurant at 606 King Street says that he plans to open for business in May.
Quang Nguyen, the owner of the Gaithersburg-based Pho Nam restaurant, tells ALXnow that he’s excited to expand to Old Town after nearly a half year of construction.
Move over Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe, there’s a new pet-themed restaurant in town.
Brewski’s Barkhaus — at 529 E. Howell Avenue, along Richmond Highway near Del Ray — is envisioned as a restaurant and dog park. It will be replacing the Flat Top Burger restaurant that closed last year.
TV Show for Monte Durham’s New Salon? — “There is a possibility that Durham’s salon will be the premise of a new show. ‘I am very proud to say that I have been tapped on the shoulder by a production company out of L.A. that has signed a contract to do a sizzle reel on the hair salon, hopefully to take that to a network and sell it so we’ll have a show on that,’ Durham announced at a Visit Alexandria meeting last month.” [Alexandria Times]
Alexandria BBQ Restaurant on Local TV — “Tommy McFly visit[ed] Myron Mixon’s Pitmaster in Old Town Alexandria to see what it takes to cook award-winning barbecue.” [NBC 4]
Fire Officials Deny Seminary Road Political Pressure — “The AFD representatives… pushed back on allegations that the city had strong-armed the fire department into supporting a certain stance. ‘No one is going to force me… to put people in harm’s way – the first responders or the people that we’re charged to protect,’ Smedley said. ‘That’s my number one goal, and that goal can be accomplished with however many lanes are on the roadway, as long as certain measures are in place. If that is being jeopardized, I will dig in hard.'” [Alexandria Times]
Resident: New Seminary Road is an Improvement — “As someone who lives on a small cul-de-sac off of Seminary Road, I am a daily user of Seminary Road. I use the road several times every day as either a driver, walker, cyclist, or simply as a resident. The new Seminary Road is beneficial to me and to my neighborhood. We are able to live with greater safety no matter how we use the road. We are people who live here — not just drive through to some other location.” [Gazette Packet]
St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub has been a Del Ray staple for decades, and it’s expanding to Old Town North.
Owners Christine and Larry Ponzi recently requested an administrative special use permit request for a change of ownership to operate the coffee shop and restaurant at 529 Montgomery Street in the mixed-use Edens property. Construction plans are set and permit applications will be submitted to the city in the coming weeks.
After months of construction, Old Town’s newest sushi restaurant officially opened its doors on Wednesday.
The Handover and King’s Ransom — two different concepts from the owners of The People’s Drug (103 N. Alfred Street)– opened to the public at 728 King Street. The previous occupant of the space, Eamonn’s Dublin Chipper and the PX cocktail bar, closed last summer.
