restaurant | ALXnow

Life Alive Organic Cafe seeks permit for Old Town location

Published September 11, 2025 at 3:15PM

Life Alive Organic Cafe has filed paperwork to open at 400 King Street in Old Town (via Facebook)

A popular Massachusetts-based fast-casual organic restaurant has filed paperwork to open at 400 King Street in Old Town.

Life Alive Organic Cafe has filed a special use permit application to open in the space formerly occupied by Long and Foster Realtors. The building is currently home to The Alexandrian Old Town Hotel at 480 King Street and Southern restaurant King & Rye, near City Hall at 301 King Street. Life Alive is planning on a 3,000-square-foot, 97-seat restaurant to be open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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Del Ray’s Pak Soii Izakaya and Bar nears opening

By James Cullum

Published September 10, 2025 at 11:45AM

Japanese restaurant Pak Soii Izakaya & Bar is coming to 1909 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray (staff photo by James Cullum)

The owner of a new Japanese restaurant in Del Ray wants to open by the end of this month.

Pak Soii Izakaya and Bar (1909 Mount Vernon Avenue) has undergone an extensive interior renovation since owners Supattra Pummora and Jay Chainam signed a lease in April. While Chainam says that the restaurant will be ready by the end of the month, it could possibly open in October as he and his partner await final inspection approvals from the city.

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French cafe chain Maman begins construction in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published September 9, 2025 at 8:30AM

Construction has begun at Maman Coffee Baking Kitchen at 701 King Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Interior demolition work started last week at a new French cafe in Old Town.

Aug. 28 was the last day for public comments on Maman Coffee Baking Kitchen’s special use permit application (SUP) to operate a cafe, bakery, restaurant, and accessory event space at 701 King Street. The building is located at the corner of King and N. Washington Streets, and is the former home to Foxtrot, which closed in 2024.

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Pupatella Neapolitan Pizza to open Sept. 15 in Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published September 8, 2025 at 2:30PM

Pupatella at 700 Slaters Lane in Old Town North (staff photo by James Cullum)

After more than two years of planning and redevelopment, Pupatella Neapolitan Pizza has revealed its opening date to ALXnow.

After an extensive renovation, the pizza chain will open at 700 Slaters Lane on Monday, Sept. 15.

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Halloween-themed pop-up bar ‘Nightmare on the Avenue’ to open soon in Del Ray

By James Cullum

Published September 3, 2025 at 12:00PM

The Nightmare On The Avenue pop-up bar at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue is open. (staff photo by James Cullum)

The annual Nightmare on the Avenue Halloween pop-up bar will soon be reopening at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray.

With new spooky interior decorations, food and drink menus, owner Bill Blackburn of the Homegrown Restaurant Group is aiming to reopen sometime next weekend — between Friday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept. 14.

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Tiki speakeasy Bar 86 to open in Alexandria next month

By James Cullum

Published September 2, 2025 at 2:45PM

(Left to right) Jacob Sunny, owner Chef Samuel Darlo, and Kelvin Sone at Bar 86, a speakeasy, is opening in October at Café du Soleil at 215 S. Union Street in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

A new speakeasy is opening next month in Alexandria.

After a year in development, Bar 86 will open next month at Café du Soleil. The Tiki bar is the work of owner Chef Samuel Darlo and consultants Jacob Sunny and Kelvin Sone, the latter two having recently finished work at the new Madam Coco Emporium at 115 S. Royal Street.

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Old Town Sandwich Shop to reopen Sept. 2 after renovation

By James Cullum

Published August 27, 2025 at 12:00PM

Old Town Sandwich Shop at 127 S. Peyton Street is reopening after a renovation on Sept. 4, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Old Town Sandwich shop will reopen soon after undergoing a two-week interior renovation.

The longstanding business at 127 S. Peyton Street closed for interior work on Friday, Aug. 22, and will reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 2, according to a note left on the front door.

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Woman found dead during eviction tops week’s news in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published August 22, 2025 at 3:30PM

Alexandria police cruiser (staff photo by James Jarvis)

It’s been an intense week in Alexandria. Here’s a look at our top stories.

Our most-read story is on a woman found dead outside her apartment during an eviction process on Wednesday, Aug. 19. The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office reported on social media that deputies were conducting an eviction at an apartment at 400 Madison Street at around 9 a.m., when they found the adult woman dead outside the building. The woman’s identity and the circumstances surrounding her death have not been released.

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2D Noodles soft-opens on Mount Vernon Avenue in Arlandria

By James Cullum

Published August 5, 2025 at 2:30PM

2D Noodles at 3823 Mount Vernon Avenue (staff photo by James Cullum)

A new Vietnamese-Japanese fusion restaurant soft-opened today in Arlandria.

2D Noodles (3823 Mount Vernon Avenue) is testing out its kitchen and menu today (Tuesday, Aug. 5) and plans to fully open once several more staffers are hired, the restaurant’s general manager told ALXnow. The restaurant is located in the Del Ray North shopping center, just two stores down from their sister restaurant, Sake Express Japanese Hibachi.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published July 18, 2025 at 3:30PM | Updated July 18, 2025 at 3:57PM

Allen Brooks (on left) and Doug Bauer, co-founders of Continues Arcade at 1050 N. Fayette Street (staff photo by James Cullum)

Welcome to Friday, Alexandria! Nearly all of our top stories this week are about local businesses.

Just in time to catch the end of the summer, our top story is on the beta launch of Continues Arcade, a new bar and restaurant featuring more than 60 restored classic arcade games. In anticipation of next week’s soft opening, ALXnow got a sneak peek inside the space at 1050 N. Fayette Street.

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From Brunch to Brew: Three Alexandria restaurants nominated for RAMMY awards

By James Cullum

Published July 10, 2025 at 10:00AM

Food at Josephine, 109 S. St. Asaph Street in Old Town (via LeadingDC)

If you’re looking for a place to eat, a number of Alexandria restaurants have been named 2025 RAMMY Honors finalists by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington.

Nominations were announced in April, and the winners will be declared at the RAMMYS Awards & Gala on August 3 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Nominees were only eligible if they were in business throughout 2024.