New City Program Offers Prizes For Visiting Shops In This Old Town Neighborhood

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The city of Alexandria has launched a summer passport program to support Duke Street businesses, with prizes offered as incentives to people who patronize the area’s shops.

According to the program’s description, customers will find a circular decal on a window or countertop with a QR code to scan to check in at participating businesses. Community members who visit the most unique businesses will be eligible for gift certificates to a participating business of their choice.

First place will win a $100 gift certificate, second place a $50 gift certificate and third a $25 gift certificate. The program will run through September.

Among the participating businesses are restaurants, a brewery, a grocery store, several dog and pet service providers, health service providers and more. The list of participating businesses can be found here.

The city is in the process of updating its land use plan for the area, which has changed a great deal since it was last evaluated in the 1990s, the city council says. The city is also in the midst of updating roadways and transit options in the area and addressing road traffic safety concerns.