Old Town Shop Opens in Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- Old Town Shop, a new business that showcases local products and Alexandria history, celebrated its grand opening Thursday with Mayor Allison Silberberg. The shop is located at 105 South Union Street near the Alexandria waterfront.

Geared toward both residents and tourists, the store offers selections of gourmet foods, books, collectives, and hospitality gifts. An added bonus for families is an area called the "Kids Cove," where children can play while parents shop.

The store has partnered with the Office of Historic Alexandria to offer "Old Town" branded items. It sells custom designed “OTX” and Old Town Alexandria branded merchandise.

But the Old Town feel of the store goes beyond a logo.

A section of the shop called "Locals Alley" is dedicated to items from local vendors at the Alexandria Farmers Market. Store owner Valerie Ianieri told Patch she reached out to vendors at the Alexandria Farmers Market that sell non-perishable items. Some of the featured vendors include Truly Life bath and body products, Capital City Candles, Amalthea Ridge goat milk bath products, Napier Farms jams and jellies, Dimitri Olive Farms olive oil & gourmet vinegars and Ester’s Granola.

Some vendors and other locals will hold tastings, demonstrations and lectures in store during special events. Some upcoming events are Amalthea Ridge's demonstration on how to make goat milk soap, olive oil tasting with Dimitri Olive Farms and a lecture on Jay Roberts' new book Lost Alexandria.

The other major component is showcasing local history. "The Port" section of the store has a representation of twelve Virginia state mile markers to show the historical importance of Alexandria, known as "the Port City." The shop will have a history exhibition area with rotating artifacts from historic partners such as the Alexandria Archeology Museum, the Office of Historic Alexandria and George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate.

The shop had come together quickly since Ianieri started planning an opening in December. But Ianieri had been thinking of the idea for a long time, wanting to a shop that offered specific "Old Town" souvenirs. Some customers that stopped by agreed. "People walk in and they say, 'thank you for this,'" she said.

For more information, visit Old Town Shop's website.

Images via Patch staff