Society Fair To Remain Open In Alexandria After Fundraiser

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Earlier this week, it looked like Society Fair could close in Old Town Alexandria on Friday, Feb. 8. That's no longer the case after a successful GoFundMe campaign.

An update posted to the GoFundMe page states the business will not close and has many changes coming. As of Friday morning, the page raised over $7,000. The restaurant is again selling its Friday Date Night Bags.

Nadine Brown, who owns Society Fair with her husband Dan Fisher, told Patch in a statement a generous landlord and community support helped the business stay afloat. The page will help pay staff and other immediate expenses and "have some breathing room to re-group."

Society Fair's GoFundMe campaign started Feb. 2 said staffing turnover and lost business from the federal government shutdown and weather hurt the business. Brown also told Washington City Paper the business was having an "identity crisis" and tries to do to many services.

Society Fair was founded six years ago by Chef Cathal Armstrong, who also owns PX, Eamonn's A Dublin Chipper, Hummingbird and the now-closed Restaurant Eve. The food emporium is made up of a gourmet food market, bistro, bakery, butchery, demo kitchen and catering service. Brown, formerly of Charlie Palmer Steak, and her husband Fisher, formerly of Restaurant Eve, took over ownership over a year ago from Armstrong's Eat Good Food Group.

While the owners acknowledge Society Fair had been slow to making changes from customer feedback, they say there are "a number of changes on the way." The restaurant has already brought in some new staff, including a catering/parties manager from Mount Vernon, food and beverage director from the Hilton at Mark Center and wine director/manager from Charlie Palmer Steak.

"Constructive criticism on how we can do better has been priceless. Now the work starts," said Brown.

Society Fair is open seven days a week at 277 South Washington Street, Alexandria.

Image via GoFundMe, a Patch promotional partner