Artfully Chocolate Owner Won't Be Returning to Old Space in Del Ray

The owner of Artfully Chocolate, which closed its Del Ray location in what was to be a temporary situation in April, won’t be re-opening a business at the old location. The Purple Goose, a children’s consignment store, expanded into the space, at 2003A Mt. Vernon Ave.

Artfully Chocolate & Gifts is currently doing business at another location, at 506 John Carlyle St. in Alexandria.

Owner Eric Nelson posted a letter to the old Del Ray store Facebook page, explaining:

It is with deep sadness, that I have to announce that I will not be reopening the store at 2003a Mt. Vernon Ave. As I had announced a little while back, my intention was to reopen the location in February 2015.

A couple weeks ago, I received notice from the landlord, Dennis Reeder, that my lease was going to be terminated. Despite the fact that I had over three years left on my lease, he made the arbitrary decision that he did not want the business there that I was planning. As a result, the owners of Purple Goose, to whom I had sublet the space in May of 2014 will apparently be staying in that location.

I am very sad and deeply frustrated by the turn of events. What started out to be a good-neighbor gesture on my part has turned into an ugly situation where I cannot return to the location where I had been since June 2008.

I have received numerous emails, calls, facebook posts and visits from many of you asking when I would return to Del Ray. I soooo appreciate all of your expressions of interest in me coming back. Given the situation, I don’t know if or when that might happen. I honestly feel that I have left a part of myself in Del Ray. I had become so accustomed to all of the wonderful customers and business owners. I never imagined that I would be booted out of my space so abruptly and tactlessly.

After the holidays I will be evaluating my options and perhaps look for other space in Del Ray. I don’t really know what the future will hold, but I do want to say that my years in Del Ray have been so very meaningful and important to me. When I did have the store there and I would leave my house to go to the store, I felt that I was going “home.” Thank you for such a great experience.

I would love to see any and all of you at the Carlyle store. Please stop by for a visit. I am there almost every day.

I wish all of you a very festive holiday and a prosperous new year.

With Deep Affection,

Eric