The owner of a number of coffee shops in and around Alexandria just got into the pizza business.
Last month, Nga Ho submitted paperwork with the city requesting a change in ownership after buying RedRocks Old Town (904 King Street) from Firebrick Food Group, Inc., which opened the 2,400-square-foot, 98-seat restaurant in 2009.
Staff at RedRocks Old Town say that the restaurant will continue as-is, just under new ownership.
Ho also owns four Java Loco & Bubble Tea locations in the area, one of which is in Alexandria (289 S. Van Dorn Street), as well as Ocha Tea in Annandale.
Firebrick Food Group still owns its Columbia Heights location in D.C.
The details of the sale were not publicly disclosed. ALXnow has reached out to the new owner for comment.
Good Thursday morning, Alexandria!
☀️ Today’s weather: Frost will clear by 10 a.m., making way for a sunny day with a high near 51. A northwest wind will shift to a westerly direction at approximately 6 mph in the afternoon. The night will be clear, with temperatures dropping to around 34 and a south wind at 5 mph.
🚨 You need to know
Dog-friendly bar Barkhaus (529 E. Howell Avenue) has been a lone wolf since opening just off Route 1 in 2020, but the Washington Business Journal reported the restaurant is joining the Bark Social pack.
Bark Social is a budding chain with three locations across Bethesda, Baltimore and Philadelphia. Barkhaus will be converted to the fourth Bark Social, with more planned in Maryland and California.
Washington Business Journal said that while Barkhaus will rebrand as Bark Social and gain some of that chain’s services, Barkhaus’ full kitchen will remain in place and possibly be added to other Bark Social locations.
The change is planned to happen over time, the Washington Business Journal reported, rather than an abrupt overnight rebranding.
Photo via Barkhaus/Facebook
📈 Wednesday’s most read
The following are the most-read ALXnow articles for Nov 1, 2023.
- UPDATED: Alexandria City High School students dismissed early due to possible bomb threat (6930 views)
- Alexandria man allegedly beaten, robbed and forced to strip naked at knifepoint in West End (6075 views)
- Former manager of Hanks Oyster Bar in Old Town pleads guilty to embezzling $680K (4420 views)
🗞 Other local coverage
- November 2023
Alexandria Times (Wednesday @ 4:23 pm)
- Alexandria Fall Festival Returns In 2023 At River Farm
Patch (Wednesday @ 4:15 pm)
- Bomb Threat Investigated At Alexandria City High School
Patch (Wednesday @ 12:31 pm)
- Virginia is 4th Likely State to Go Cashless First According to Survey
Zebra (Wednesday @ 10:25 am)
- Children, Seniors Share Halloween Fun At Retirement Community
Patch (Wednesday @ 9:43 am)
- SIGN UP: Accupuncturists Without Borders Offering Free Community Healing Event November 10
Zebra (Wednesday @ 8:56 am)
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s going on today in Alexandria, from our event calendar.
The former manager of Hank’s Oyster Bar faces years in prison after pleading guilty to embezzling $680,000 from the restaurant.
Claude Ibrahim, 53, pleaded guilty in the Alexandria Circuit Court to nine counts of felony embezzlement and eight counts of misdemeanor embezzlement.
Ibrahim, who was released on bond, was indicted in May on 17 counts of felony embezzlement after creating “biographical and deposit information for five fictitious employees at Hank’s Oyster Bar and submitted biweekly timesheets for them while receiving their pay,” according to Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter.
Porter continued, “The first false employee account was set up in June 2014 and the embezzlement scheme continued until the Defendant’s termination in November 2022. When confronted about the false employees, the Defendant admitted her actions.”
Ibrahim will be sentenced on March 21, 2024, and faces a maximum of up to 20 years for each felony embezzlement count, and a maximum of one year per count of misdemeanor embezzlement. The maximum penalty for all of the counts combined is 188 years in prison.
Image via Hank’s Oyster Bar/Facebook
While most of Washingtonian’s Best Brunch Spots in the region are on the wrong side of the Potomac, one Alexandria location made the cut.
Matt & Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar (1501 Mount Vernon Avenue) is the sole Alexandria location on the list, which lauds its dog-friendly patio and upscale versions of brunch classics.
According to Washingtonian:
This family-friendly Del Ray joint with a dog-friendly patio offers slightly cheffed-Âup versions of brunch classics all day long. Crisp-edged masa pancakes come with a mole syrup, and scallion-Âcheddar biscuits are smothered in chicken-chorizo gravy. Bloody Marys are available three ways, including a green version with poblano-infused tequila and wasabi.
The restaurant opened last year at the former Charlie’s On the Avenue location and specializes in all-day brunch.
“We’re pretty excited about being included,” the restaurant said on social media. “Thank you to our guests, staff and neighborhood for all of the support since opening.”
After more than a dozen complaints of outdoor grills sending smoke into neighboring Del Ray homes, City Council on Saturday unanimously approved a modified plan to allow Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ to operate behind Evening Star Cafe.
The approval expands the concept’s hours of operation from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. (previously 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.), more outdoor seating (from 50 seats to 124 seats), live outdoor music Wednesday to Saturday, as well as permission to cook food from two outdoor smoker grills and selling the food from a temporary food trailer.
Neighborhood Restaurant Group (NRG) owns Evening Star Cafe (2000 Mount Vernon Avenue) and during the pandemic converted its rear parking lot into an outdoor dining area. They were allowed to do so when the city suspended enforcement of multiple special use permit conditions. Earlier this year, however, the restaurant started selling Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ barbecue in the outdoor dining area without city approval. Two smokers were also located 20 feet from neighboring residences, prompting 19 complaints submitted to the city, as well as 13 city citations requiring removal of the smokers and the issuance of a fire code violation by a fire marshal.
City Council Member Kirk McPike said that he supported the restaurant’s plan, but not the after-the-fact way that it went to the city for approval.
“Do we have to disapprove one to get the message out that these after-the-fact approvals are not what we want to see?” McPike said. “We want people to actually be applying for these special use permits before they undertake these actions.
NRG agreed to reduce the impact of the smoker grills by relocating them away from the western property line and closer to the building, as well as an exhaust pipe.
Michael Babin, the founder and principal of NRG, apologized to the City Council for operating without city approval.
“At some point we needed to go back and either retroactively or for the first time say we need to get approval to do this,” Babin acknowledged.
NRG also owns Planet Wine, Vermilion, two Rustico restaurants, Buzz Bakeshop, Josephine and Shop Made in VA.
Image via Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ/Facebook
Del Ray’s BBQ scene could be getting a little bigger soon.
A plan to boost the size of outdoor smokehouse Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ (2000 Mount Vernon Avenue) in Del Ray, in the backyard of Evening Star Cafe, is heading to the City Council at a meeting on Saturday, Oct. 14.
The proposal is to allow 74 additional outdoor dining seats at the outdoor restaurant, for a total of 124 seats. The owners also hope to add live entertainment, extended hours of operation, and a new temporary trailer for beer kegs and restaurant services.
The restaurant has faced pushback from neighbors, primarily for issues related to smells from the restaurant. According to the staff report:
Starting in March 2023 when Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ first opened, City staff has received several complaints relating to the existing business operations: 12 regarding smoke and odor and four complaints regarding excessive noise; three of which related to noise from performers playing music. Additional complaints regarding delivery trucks blocking driveways have been more recently received.
The report noted that staff directed the restaurant owners to remove the smokers and said the outdoor seating needed a special use permit.
The staff report recommended approval of most of the proposal, though not for live performances given that the proposed “cabana stage” would be within 60 feet of neighboring residences.
Arlandria bar Hops N’ Shine went to the City Council earlier this year similarly hoping for more outdoor seating and live music, and walked away with mixed results and outright rejecting the proposed live outdoor entertainment over similar concerns about proximity to neighboring residences.
The Planning Commission supported the Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ proposal in a 6-1 vote, with Commissioner David Brown opposing. However, the staff report indicated that multiple Planning Commissioners raised concerns about mitigating the smell of smoke. The report noted that applicant Michael Babin said he could work on mitigating the impact of the restaurant on neighbors.
Image via Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ/Facebook
On Oct. 4, after nearly a decade at 1909 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray, sushi restaurant KAiZEN Tavern closed and reopened as Zuki Moon.
“Embark on a culinary adventure as we bring you beloved gastro bar food from Japan, and the Philippines,” the restaurant says on its website. “Our vibrant Asian menus and craft cocktails stem from our favorite culinary travels and adventures from the back alley street food stalls to the vibrant and colorful markets.”
Restaurant owner Daniel Wharam opened KAiZEN Tavern in 2014, offering sushi with a blend of Latin, Asian and American cuisine. Wharam and his wife also own Grape & Bean in the city’s Rosemont neighborhood.
The restaurant is named after a fictional girl named Zuki, who grew up in a small Japanese village. The short story is published on the company website, and is included below. Michelle Armstrong works with the couple and came up with the concept and wrote the story.
Once upon a time in a small village in Japan, lived a young girl named Zuki. She was a blend of two cultures, her mother was Filipino and her father was Japanese. Zuki grew up cherishing both her heritage and the love for both countries.
One day, while playing near the magnificent Dragon Gate waterfall, Zuki noticed something unusual. A koi fish, with its colorful scales shimmering under the sunlight, had leaped out of the water and was struggling to return. Without hesitation, Zuki rushed to its aid and gently placed it back into the water. As she did so, mysterious sensation coursed through her.
Years passed, and on Zuki’s 18th birthday, falling on the day of the 3rd moon. Zuki revisited the waterfall to swim. As she stepped into the clear waters, an enchanting transformation occurred. Zuki turned into a magnificent koi fish, her vibrant scales glistening in the moonlight.
With newfound freedom, Zuki embarked on a journey to her mother’s homeland, the Philippines. She swam across the vast ocean and upon arriving in the Philippines, Zuki discovered a land of endless wonders, filled with warm-hearted people, breathtaking landscapes, and most importantly, a diverse and delectable cuisine.
Zuki’s nature allowed her to make countless friends during her visits to the Philippines. They were eager to introduce her to their most beloved eateries, hidden gems tucked away in back alley bars and vibrant markets. Together, they savored the mouthwatering delicacies and flavors of the Philippines. (Hint: Find the characters on our drink coasters.)
Zuki’s favorite foods became a reflection of her cultural heritage. She delighted in the delicate artistry of Sushi, the comforting warmth of Ramen, and the explosion of flavors in Adobo and Sinigang. From savoring street food like Tempura and Yakiniku to enjoying traditional dishes like Pancit and Kare-Kare, Zuki’s taste buds danced with joy.
Each year, as Zuki returned to both her let homelands she carried with her the memories of her friends and the incredible culinary experiences they shared. Inspired by their love and friendship, she dreamed of someday opening a little restaurant that would celebrate the fusion of flavors from both countries.
And so, in honor of Zuki’s mythical journey and her love for the diverse cuisines of Japan and the Philippines, Zuki Moon aims to bring you a taste of her favorite foods. Let us take you on a little culinary adventure…
Zuki Moon and KAiZEN Tavern images via Facebook
After decades in business, a local restaurant near Alexandria’s West End border will close at the end of the month.
Foxfire Grill owner Terri Fox recently announced the closure on the company website and social media. The restaurant with American fare at 6550 Little River Turnpike has weathered mixed reviews over the years, and even got a makeover in 2019 from celebrity chef Robert Irvine from Restaurant Impossible.
Fox bought the restaurant in 2003 and partner Jackie Coppage joined in 2016. She and Coppage were unable to renew their lease at the Pinecrest Plaza location.
“It comes with a heavy heart to inform you that Foxfire Grill will have to close our doors October 31st,” Fox wrote. “We made it through Snowmageddon, the Derecho, an earthquake, and of course COVID. All with the support of this wonderful community.”
Fox said she enjoyed watching her customers and staff grow over the years.
“I truly want to thank you all for everything you’ve done for us and by extension each other,” Fox wrote. “I hope to see you often in the next couple of weeks!”
Outdoor barbeque spot Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ in Del Ray could be getting a significant expansion — provided it can get the permits next month.
A special use permit heading to the Planning Commission on Tuesday, Oct. 3, details plans for expanded seating, live entertainment and more, though only some of those have staff’s recommendation for approval.
The applicant, Majestic Grill, Inc., is proposing to allow 74 additional outdoor dining seats for a total of 124 seats. The applicant is also hoping to extend hours of operation, permit outdoor live entertainment, and to request approval of a temporary trailer.
The outdoor live entertainment would include live musical performances Wednesday through Saturday from 6-10 p.m.
The staff report recommends approval to the increase in outdoor dining seats, expanded hours of operation, amplified outdoor entertainment, and the temporary trailer — but does not recommend approval for live performances.
The application also includes letters from the public. While some had concerns about a smoker on the site being a nuisance for neighbors, the vast majority of letters were in support of the business, including one from the Del Ray Business Association.
Image via Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ/Facebook
The Chamber ALX has released the finalists for the Best in Business Awards, and the top businesses will be announced at a gala in Old Town next month.
It’s no secret that Don Simpson, Jr. is the chamber’s 2023 business leader of the year, since that cat was let out of the bag last month. Just who will receive the other highly coveted awards, however, is still secret. This year’s nominees are listed below, and winners are determined by a panel of previous awardees.
The Best in Business Awards, presented by Burke & Herbert Bank, will be held at the Westin Old Town Alexandria (400 Courthouse Square) from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Octo. 12. The event costs $125 for members and $150 for non-members.
Land use attorney Cathy Puskar was named business leader of the year last year. Read more about last year’s event here.
Alexandria’s 2023 Best In Business finalists
Small Business of the Year
- 9Round Fitness
- Cualtzin Salon
- Jillian Keck Hogan Group
- Salon deZEN
- Solutions Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine
- The Wise Family
- Wine Gallery 108
Medium Business of the Year
Large Business of the Year
- George Washington’s Mount Vernon
- United States Senate Federal Credit Union
- Woodbine Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center
Rising Star Business of the Year
- Ada’s on the River
- BeeLiner Diner
- Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe and Wine Bar
- Silk Rose Spa
- VIP Alexandria Magazine
Nonprofit & Association of the Year
