Alexandria Cafe Proposes Expansions to Business

A local cafe in Alexandria has proposed expanding its business, in plans outlined to the City’s planning commission, which will vote on the proposal next week.

Bon Vivant Cafe, located at 2016 Mount Vernon Ave. in Del Ray, is hoping to increase its menu offerings, add occasional acoustic entertainment and add on-premise only beer and wine sales, according to documents filed with the City.

The proposed heartier menu would include soups, salads, sandwiches, desserts, snacks, appetizers, dinners (meats and rice/potatoes) and burgers. See the current menu here.

Planning commission staff are recommending that the hours of the business be extended to 10 p.m. No extra seating will be added and table service (wait staff) will not be added.

No live entertainment will be allowed outdoors, according to the plan. The restaurant has outlined plans to build a new outdoor seating area, detailed on a successful Kickstarter campaign that saw the owners raise more than $18,000 to reach their goal.

The Del Ray Business Association has signaled its support of the expansion of the business with a letter to the Planning Commission.

Bon Vivant Cafe emphasizes local foods that are grown and raised naturally without pesticides or hormones. The site was formerly Seva Cafe.

The Planning Commission is set to vote on the proposal next week.

PHOTO of Bon Vivant Cafe from its Web site