New Businesses, Developments, Experiences: What's New In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria residents and visitors will notice new businesses, experiences and development progress in 2023.

Updates on what's new in Alexandria within the last year and what openings are coming up were shared during a Visit Alexandria member meeting Thursday.

In business news, waterfront eatery Cafe 44 has plans to expand and rebrand. The 7,500-square-foot expansion will include a commercial kitchen, raw bar and charcuterie bar, a central bar with a view of the U.S. Capitol and Potomac River, private dining room, social media nook and more. The restaurant will remain open during the first phase of construction during summer 2023, and the current space will be remodeled during the second phase in fall 2023. When it reopens, it will have new menu items and be rebranded as Jula's on the Potomac, named after the owner's great-grandmother Jula Jane.

DC-based brewery Atlas Brew Works recently announced its intent to open at the Carlyle Crossing development with Andy's Pizza later in 2023. Other restaurants coming soon include Lily's Chocolate and Coffee, Tatte Bakery & Cafe and Ted's Bulletin.

Recent restaurant openings shared at the Visit Alexandria meeting included Thompson Italian, Michael's on King, Frank Pepe Pizza Napoletana, Handover by the Slice, Andy's Pizza, Lima Bistro Bar & Restaurant, Roha Ethiopian Restaurant, Virginia's Darling Wine Bar, RailBird Kitchen, St. Elmo's Coffee Pub in Fairlington, and District Biscuit Co.

Another restaurant opening highlighted was 1799 Prime, a steak and seafood restaurant run by Jahmond Quander. The restaurant celebrates the history of the Quander family, which is one of the nation's oldest African American families on record. Art featured at the restaurant's outdoor dining space depicts the history of the Quander family.

On the wellness side, business openings highlighted within the last year included Ms. Moxie’s Moon Shop, Restore Hyper Wellness, Strictly E-Bikes, PlantHouse and Cocolita.

In retail, new openings include The George Vintage & Design, Evolution Home, Lumière Candle Studio, Happy Place Gift Bar, Made in ALX and Your Hobby Place. Crooked Beat Records is relocating from Old Town North to Del Ray this year.

In new experiences, the southern route of the African American Waterfront Heritage Trail is being launched after the northern route debuted in 2021. The effort to share the contributions of African Americans to Alexandria's waterfront history was spearheaded by the African American Heritage Trail Committee with support from the Office of Historic Alexandria.

In February, there will be a 100th anniversary rededication event for the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. It will follow the George Washington Birthday Parade.

In March, visitors can look for the latest public art installation at Waterfront Park. Award-winning Brooklyn artist Nina Cooke John is creating the installation titled "Two Boxes of Oranges and Admonia Jackson. The art is inspired by the ships uncovered on Alexandria's waterfront and invites spectators to remember a time when cargo and enslaved people were transported on ships. The installation will be open from March to late November 2023.

The Alexandria Black History Museum will reopen in 2023 with a new exhibit called "Preserving Their Names: The Black Lives Remembered Collection." The exhibit will document the community's response to the police killing of George Floyd and the city's commitment to equality. An exact opening date for the museum has not yet been announced. Another museum, Freedom House Museum, reopened after renovations in spring 2022.

The expanded pedestrian zone on lower King Street has been another noticeable difference for visitors in the last year. In November, the unit block and Strand pedestrian zone was made permanent, connecting to the pedestrian zone in the 100 block of King Street. According to Claire Mouledoux, vice president of communications for Visit Alexandria, Old Town Business will bring back pop-up vendors to the unit block starting in the spring.

The city also has a permanent parklet program that began in October 2022, allowing businesses to use parking spaces for outdoor business uses by paying a permit fee.

In hotel news, Hotel AKA is expected to open in Old Town North in spring 2023. The hotel is one of the first U.S. projects world-renowed architect Piero Lissoni. The luxury hotel will include 180 guest rooms and suites with amenities like a zen garden, cafe, lounge and cinema theater.

At the Prince and S. Washington Street intersection, Hotel Heron is preparing to open at the site of the former 1926 George Mason Hotel. It will include 134 rooms, amenities, meeting space, ground floor restaurant and rooftop bar.

Hilton Alexandria Mark Center celebrated the completion of its renovations, which included renovated guest rooms, public spaces and event spaces as well as a new Sushi Bar and Marketplace.

Why Hotel by Placemakr recently opened at the Carlyle Crossing development, offering 120 apartment-style rooms.

Christina Mindrup, vice president of real estate for the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, shared an update on developments.

In Potomac Yard, Virginia Tech's Innovation Campus is under construction and will be part of the neighborhood known as National Landing along with Arlington's Amazon headquarters. The first Virginia Tech academic building is expected to be ready by 2024, and the campus will add additional space at a later time.

Amazon's first headquarters building, Metropolitan Park, is expected to be ready later in 2023, while the helix-shaped building is expected to be ready in 2026, Mindrup said.

Another draw in the developing Potomac Yard neighborhood will be the Potomac Yard Metro, tentatively expected to open in May 2023.

In Old Town North, Hilco Redevelopment Partners is working with the city on conceptual plans for the redevelopment of the old power plant. At least three buildings could include residential, cultural and arts, office and a potential hotel, according to Mindrup. The next community meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 30.

In the West End, demolition of the Landmark Mall is complete to make way for the future WestEnd Alexandria mixed-use development. Approvals for the first four buildings were recently given. Three of the buildings will provide 1,100 residential units, including 45 affordable units, according to Mindrup. Inova Alexandria Hospital, the anchor of the development, has a target completion date in 2028.