Al's Steak House: Temporarily Closed in Del Ray

PHOTO: Al’s Steak House, photo from Alexandria Daily Photo

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Could there be more changes coming to The Avenue?

It appears that Al’s Steak House in Del Ray, a longtime institution in the neighborhood, is temporarily closed. Area residents report that the restaurant has been closed for a bit during the holidays, reopened, and now has a sign outside saying “Closed Indefinitely.” The phone went unanswered at the eatery Wednesday.

Tartan Properties’ Mike Porterfield said Wednesday afternoon that restaurant owner John “Bo” Severson has a long-term lease there and has not communicated any changes to Tartan.

Severson took over the restaurant, located at 1504 Mt. Vernon Ave., after his father, Johnny (who some called “Big Al”), died at age 73 in August from lung cancer.

The senior Severson began what would be his lifetime career at Al’s Steak House at the age of 12, when he began cutting onions after school for the original Al. After a very brief career as a mail carrier, John and his wife, Patricia bought Al’s Steak House in 1966 and he began his reign over Del Ray as “Steak King.”

During decades of rapid growth and change, Severson refused to change anything. He prided himself on providing customers who returned far and wide with a local institution that offered the same massive cheese steaks and familiar surroundings year after year.

Patch will update the story when new information becomes available.

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