Notable Signs Around Alexandria The Creation Of Del Ray Shop

ALEXANDRIA, VA — From signs displayed at businesses to yard signs announcing local events, you've likely seen the work of Affordable Signs & Banners all over Alexandria.

Affordable Signs & Banners, a small business in Del Ray, dates back to 1989. Ken Boland, a Detroit native who moved to Del Ray, first ran the shop out of his basement. After opening in a brick-and-mortar space in 1993, it moved to a larger space on Richmond Highway in 2016.

Patch is featuring small businesses like from Affordable Signs & Banners for a free business spotlight. If you'd like your business to be featured, fill out our Q&A form. Feel free to pass the form along to any businesses that should be spotlighted in our community.

Below is more information about Affordable Signs & Banners.

Business name

Affordable Signs & Banners

Address

2100 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria, VA, 22301

www.affordablesigns.com, Social media @affordablesigns1989

Hours

Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

When and how was your business opened?

Originally from Detroit, Ken Boland moved to Virginia in 1987. A year later he started his own business and moved to Del Ray. Seeing the future potential Mt. Vernon Ave. had for small businesses, Ken searched for four years for a suitable storefront to locate Affordable Signs & Banners. In 1993 he moved the sign shop from his tiny basement to a 1,000 square foot space located in the Potomac Square Town Center. It was in this space that Ken and one employee served the business community for over 13 years.

As Ken's reputation for providing excellent customer service and quality products spread throughout the Washington, DC area, business boomed and Affordable Signs & Banners required a substantial expansion to keep up with customer demand.

Today, Affordable Signs & Banners operates in a 7,000 square foot facility on Richmond Highway with 12 employees. For over 33 years, providing excellent customer service and quality products remains Affordable Signs & Banners' number one priority.

What products or services are offered at your business?

We specialize in signs, banners, window lettering, vehicle lettering and magnetics for a wide variety of uses ranging from retail and restaurant storefronts, to special events, meetings and conventions. Additional items include step and repeat banners, real estate signs, logo decals, wall wraps, "big checks," Coroplast and aluminum yard signs, MDO and PolyMetal job site signs, hanging brackets, dimensional signage, plaques and more.

What is your favorite thing about the community your business is located in?

The Del Ray community is caring, inclusive, welcoming, vibrant and fun. The community continues to grow but never loses its small town vibe.

Is there any recent news at your business you would like to share with the community?

In December, Josh Levine, one of our talented design team members, was recognized by the Del Ray Business Association with an award for "Going Above and Beyond" in his work on signs and banners for all of the wonderful DRBA events.

Last month, we were honored to receive the 2022 Zebra Readers' Choice Award for Best Sign Shop in Alexandria!

Our shop continues to grow. We recently added another graphic designer to our team and will be welcoming another designer later this month.