Rooftop Bar, Wine And Paint, Tea House: Patch Readers' Wish List For Open Retail Space

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria Patch readers would like to see various kinds of businesses in the former Foxtrot space and more in Old Town overall, according to a Patch survey. But a few things they don't want? Banks and non-local businesses.

Patch conducted a survey from midday on Tuesday, May 14 to noon on Friday, May 17, drawing 260 responses. The survey was a non-scientific poll of readers to determine what they'd like to open in Foxtrot and Old Town Alexandria.

The Foxtrot at 701 King Street in Alexandria closed on April 23 along with all other locations. As Washington Business Journal first reported, the retail space is up for lease. Dochter & Alexander Retail Advisors is marketing the 701 King Street space as being on a "high profile retail intersection in Old Town Alexandria with top-tier traffic counts" with strong retail nearby like Athleta, Tatte, Lululemon, Sephora, Warby Parker, Patagonia, Anthropologie and Bluemercury.

The most popular responses were general categories of businesses, such as restaurants, clothing stores and convenience stores. Numerous readers named specific businesses, like Wise Guy Pizza and Bath and Body Works, Paul's French Bakery, Busboys and Poets, Mezeh and Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken. Other readers say they want to bring back Le Pain Quotidian or liked the Foxtrot concept and desire something similar.

On the topic of businesses Old Town needs more of, readers' most popular responses were restaurants (97), fashion or home goods store (74), convenience or corner stores (73) and entertainment (55).

Here is the Patch reader wish list for what should go in the former Foxtrot space:

• Home goods/decor/furnishings
• Theater/movies/comedy club
• A new rooftop bar
• Coffee shop/market
• Pharmacy
• Le Pain Quotidian
• More unique boutiques
• Build your own cheese board box/cafe
• Cocktail bar
• Wawa
• Pub
• Brewery
• A store that makes Montreal bagels like Fairmount Bagel
• Deli/bakery
• McDonald’s
• Apple Store
• A flower shop
• A really good Cuban restaurant
• Upscale pool hall
• Madewell
• Urban style Target
• Gin cocktail bar offering flights
• Clydes or Great American Restaurants
• Shoe store
• Grocery store
• Book store
• Wise Guy Pizza
• High end traditional tea house
• Virginia ABC Store
• Burger King
• Entertainment
• Vitamin shop
• Pancake house
• Bath and Body Works
• Lands End store
• Mango Fashion
• Parking
• High-end fashion
• Korean BBQ
• A corner shop similar to Foxtrot
• J.Crew
• Fashion not too upscale
• Chick Fil-A
• Casual, fast fancy tacos
• Coffee shop that sells fresh pastries
• Hooters
• Jaleo or something similar
• Gap
• Vegan restaurant, vegan shoes, vegan grocery
• Bring back waffle shop
• COS
• Chopped or a Mike's American-esque place.
• Home goods
• A wine and paint place
• Paul's French Bakery
• Poke restaurant
• Good gifts like Red Barn Mercantile or French bakery
• Coworking space and retro arcade
• Mezeh, CAVA
• Casual lunch space
• Arts and crafts gift shop
• Bloomingdales
• Gelateria
• New York-style deli
• Neighborhood hardware store
• Afghan restaurant
• Korean or Ethiopian restaurant
• Men's clothing
• Yates convenience store
• Georgetown Cupcakes or Alexandria Pastry
• Butcher
• Cheese shop or specialty grocery store
• Interior design
• Intimate performance space with cafe
• Wicked Weed brewery and restaurant
• Tuckernut
• Bowling alley
• TJ Maxx, Marshall's, Nordstrom Rack
• Theater or music venue
• Five and Ten Market
• Magnolia Bakery
• Visitor center
• Moby Dick House of Kabob
• A restaurant that caters to vegan and gluten free like Cafe Gratitude in LA
• Fitness center
• Robeks Juices
• JJill
• Mediterranean restaurant
• A Spanish restaurant
• A new AT&T store to replace the one that just closed
• A nice Chinese restaurant
• Ulta or Sprouts
• Walmart
• Sports bar
• Jazz or blues club
• An authentic French pastry shop: Laduree
• Busboys and Poets
• H&M
• Discount retail clothing/sporting goods
• News stand
• Peruvian chicken
• Comic book store
• An healthy eatery, maybe Pret a Manger or Devon & Blakely
• English-style pub
• Arcade or gaming space
• Martial arts or dance studio
• Carnegie Deli
• Cato Women’s Clothing store
• Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken
• Bagel shop
• Ice cream
• Marijuana dispensary
• Wine bar
• Free spay/neuter
• Sundance
• 2 Amys
• Secondhand bookstore, music shop
• Vineyard Vines
• Walgreens
• Potbelly

Here's what readers would not like to see:

• Bank
• Fast food chains
• Pizza
• Chains
• Cafe or houseware store
• More restaurants and retail