Archive for 'Business'

Despite competition, plenty of room for boutiques in Old Town

Despite competition, plenty of room for boutiques in Old Town

By Derrick Perkins Old Town’s plethora of small specialty shops is well known, but the bevy of potential competitors didn’t deter Gale Curcio and Coddy Eyre from opening Bucket List Boutique just off of King Street [...]

Small business owners brace for fiscal cliff

Small business owners brace for fiscal cliff

By Melissa Quinn For Joanne Sapp, the busiest time of the year is prom season. Her store, Dejavu Boutique, boasts racks and racks of dresses – floor length and cocktail, sparkles and silk – come spring, [...]

Old Town’s sauciest mothers ink distribution deal with local Whole Foods

Old Town’s sauciest mothers ink distribution deal with local Whole Foods

By Melissa Quinn Some like it mild, some like it hot, but Eli Rakis and Mary Ritley-White like it homemade. And as the owners and chefs of Sauce Queen Foods, that’s just how they make it. [...]

Union Street ready for makeover

Union Street ready for makeover

By Melissa Quinn Alexandria City Council paved the way for Union Street, one of Old Town’s busiest thoroughfares, to get a makeover in the not-too-distant future Saturday. The Port City’s top-elected officials approved short-term recommendations in [...]

The show will go on at Old Town Theater

The show will go on at Old Town Theater

By Derrick Perkins The hardest decision Rob Kaufman made in the nearly yearlong effort to restore the Old Town Theater was one of his earliest. “The biggest hurdle was … the change from not doing a [...]

Residents fear displacement as city releases master housing plan

Residents fear displacement as city releases master housing plan

By Derrick Perkins Not quite a month after the election, West End residents Veronica Calzada and Hector Pineda sit at their table and wonder whether affordable housing will become a forgotten issue, discarded on the campaign [...]

Lack of interest derails Del Ray Trolley

Lack of interest derails Del Ray Trolley

By Melissa Quinn Plans to connect Del Ray to Old Town with a free trolley  have ground to a halt, officials say. Despite interest in the free service – an extension of the King Street Trolley [...]

Alexandria’s mom and pop shops mark Black Friday with deals

Alexandria’s mom and pop shops mark Black Friday with deals

By Derrick Perkins Bishop Boutique opened up shop shortly before Black Friday last year, and owner Kelly Ferenc jumped at the chance to join Old Town’s growing celebration of the unofficial shopping holiday. “I was really [...]

Sequestration worries local lawmakers, economic experts

Sequestration worries local lawmakers, economic experts

By Melissa Quinn While the threat of sequester keeps Washington tied up in knots, experts warn the looming federal spending cuts could have a substantial effect on local cities and counties. Alexandria officials downplayed possible repercussions [...]

Dissent on Union Street study

Dissent on Union Street study

By Derrick Perkins and Melissa Quinn The long-awaited Union Street transportation study arrived before the planning commission earlier this month, but the ambitious makeover of the busy Old Town corridor has its critics. “I urge the [...]