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Bonaventure unveils new shopping center plans on Mount Vernon Avenue

Published February 9, 2022 at 1:00PM

A conceptual design for Bonaventure's property at 2525 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray. (Via Bonaventure)

Local developer Bonaventure hopes their new shopping center in the middle of Del Ray could be constructed as early as summer 2025. That’s if all goes according to their plan.

Right now the plan for 2525 Mount Vernon Avenue is still in its conceptual phase, but includes a four-story, 43-foot-tall building with 12,530 square feet of retail and 79 rental units on the one acre lot. Bonaventure is not planning on including any affordable housing units in the project, and will instead contribute to the city’s Housing Trust Fund.

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Multiple persons of interest identified in West End 7-Eleven arson

By James Cullum

Published February 7, 2022 at 10:45AM

Image courtesy Will Mahoney (@HeelWillMahoney)

Multiple persons of interest have been identified after an attempted break-in and arson at a 7-Eleven store in the West End.

At around 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 3, four-to-five males walked into the 7-Eleven at 2 S. Jordan Street and “using incendiary devices committed the offense of arson,” according to a police search warrant affidavit.

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No arrest after armed robbery at West End CVS store

By James Cullum

Published January 28, 2022 at 10:50AM

Alexandria Police are still searching for a man who robbed the CVS at gunpoint just before midnight on Saturday, Jan. 23.

The store is open 24 hours, and a man brandished a handgun during the robbery. No one was injured and an undisclosed amount of cash was stolen from a register.

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After filing bankruptcy, Sur La Table planning to reopen in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published January 19, 2022 at 10:45AM | Updated January 19, 2022 at 12:16PM

Sur La Table is reopening at 326 King Street. (Via Facebook)

Sixteen months after being forced to closed due to bankruptcy reorganization, Seattle-based kitchenware retailer Sur La Table is planning to reopen at 326 King Street.

The company won’t say exactly when the reopening will happen, but ALXnow was tipped off after Sur La Table posted a $70,000 a year job for a full-time manager for the store.

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Women’s fitness chain Athleta opens today in Old Town

By Vernon Miles

Published January 18, 2022 at 9:50AM

Athleta winter gear, photo via Athleta/Facebook

Women’s activewear store Athleta is opening today at 607 King Street in Old Town.

The store opens at 10 a.m. (so now-ish) and it open until 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, Athleta is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

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Sneakers and slip-ons: How Comfort One Shoes adapted to the pandemic

By James Cullum

Published January 6, 2022 at 1:00PM | Updated January 6, 2022 at 4:49PM

Faced with a drastic disruption in foot traffic, Alexandria-based Comfort One Shoes had to pivot. The pandemic forced the company to focus its energy on online sales, bringing in more casual merchandise and closing the Union Station location in D.C.

Company President Garrett Breton says the efforts made 2021 sales higher than the pre-pandemic year of 2019.

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JUST IN: Officials investigate fire at Jordan Street 7-Eleven

By Alan Henney

Published January 3, 2022 at 9:00PM

S. Jordan Street 7-Eleven fire (Image courtesy Will Mahoney / @HeelWillMahoney)

A possible firebombing at a convenience store is under investigation.

Alexandria officials have not commented officially yet, but according to radio reports, investigators are looking for four to five men who threw Molotov cocktails into the 7-Eleven on S. Jordan Street at Duke Street around 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

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Maryland man arrested for shoplifting from Target in Potomac Yard

By James Cullum

Published December 16, 2021 at 9:30AM

Alexandria Police cruiser (staff photo by James Cullum)

A Maryland man was arrested earlier this month for allegedly shoplifting $350 worth of merchandise from the Target at Potomac Yard.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, Nov. 24. The Target loss prevention manager told police that two suspects walked into the store, and that he recognized one of them as a frequent shopper, according to a search warrant affidavit.

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JUST IN: Banana Republic and Gap Outlet closing in Old Town on January 24

By James Cullum

Published December 6, 2021 at 2:15PM

Banana Republic at 628 King Street and Gap Outlet at 622 King Street closed Jan. 24, 2021 (staff photo by James Cullum)

After decades at the corner of King and Washington Streets in Old Town, national retailers Banana Republic and Gap Outlet are closing their doors forever on January 24, 2021.

All merchandise is currently marked between 20% and 40% at Banana Republic (628 King Street), and up to 70% off at Gap Outlet (622 King Street).

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Grocery delivery chain Foxtrot coming to Old Town

By James Cullum

Published June 15, 2021 at 4:30PM

A lease has been signed at 701 King Street, the former home to Le Pan Quotidien. (Courtesy Google Maps)

Grocery delivery chain Foxtrot is coming to a prime location in Old Town.

The Washington Business Journal first reported that Douglas Development Corp. arranged the lease for the 4,500 square-foot two-story building at 701 King Street. This will be the third Foxtrot store in the region, and could open as soon as eight months from now, Matthew Jemal, senior vice president at Douglas Development Corp. told ALXnow.

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Bellies & Babies Owner Reinvents Herself, Stays Upbeat During Pandemic

By James Cullum

Published April 29, 2020 at 5:40PM | Updated April 29, 2020 at 5:56PM

Lee Raynes, owner of the Bellies & Babies consignment shop on Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Lee Raynes says she’s got this one. There’s no dampening of her spirits, because the new owner of Bellies & Babies is on a spiritual journey and the pandemic is just a bus stop.

Raynes bought the Del Ray consignment shop from owner Dawn Luepke last fall and took over at the beginning of the year. She had two months of a mild winter’s worth of business before COVID-19 effectively shut down foot traffic along Mount Vernon Avenue and limited the number of customers she could let into the shop.