Matt And Tony's Owner To Oversee Royal Restaurant Under New Ownership

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The owner of a popular Del Ray restaurant will take over operations of a longtime Old Town North restaurant sold to new owners.

Royal Restaurant, a restaurant owned by the Pikrallidas and Euripides families since 1904, recently changed hands to Alexandria Restaurant Partners. Alexandria Restaurant Partners is a partnership between Dave Nicholas, Scott Shaw, David Clapp, Trip Howell and Win Sheridan as well as Matt Sloan of Sloan Hospitality. Sloan, the owner of Matt & Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar, will be the day-to-day-operator of The Royal while Alexandria Restaurant Partners will provide support and be the landlord.

Sloan said he will continue to honor The Royal's legacy as a popular spot for breakfast.

"The Euripides and Pikrallidas families have created something special in Alexandria for the past 119 years; we only want to build on that incredible legacy," said Sloan in a statement.

"The Royal has been a fixture in our community for generations," added Shaw. "Matt’s community-first approach as a hands-on owner, is what this restaurant deserves and we are thrilled to be partnering with him once again."

Alexandria Restaurant Partners owns other Alexandria restaurants like Mia's Italian Kitchen, The Majestic, Vola's Dockside Grill and Hi-Tide Lounge, Theismann's Restaurant, Ada's on the River, and Barca Pier & Wine Bar. The restaurant group also has a joint venture with Sloan for Matt & Tony’s All Day Kitchen + Bar, which opened in March 2022 and has been named a top brunch spot.

Royal Restaurant has been a mainstay for homecooked Greek, Italian and American food for 119 years in Alexandria. The original location was the Royal Café located next to City Hall. In 1964, Gus and Richard Pikrallidas and their nephew, Charlie Euripides, moved The Royal to its current location at 730 N. St. Asaph Street. Charlie Euripides, later joined by his wife Barbara, continued operating The Royal until he died in 2022, and the sons of the Euripides and Pikrallidas families, Gus, Michael, and Chris, continued the family business.

The Pikrallidas and Euripides families chose Alexandria Restaurant Partners to run The Royal, as they've preserved other landmark restaurants.

"It’s never easy to let go, but we know The Royal, its long-time employees, and our valued guests will be in good hands," said Demetrios Pikrallidas, the advising attorney on the sale and part of. the Euripides family. "We were witness to how ARP handled the takeover of The Majestic and Joe Theismann’s, two other Alexandria institutions. They were thoughtful to preserve each brands history and celebrate what these historic concepts meant — and continue to mean — to the community."

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