Archive for 'Small Business'

Alexandria’s cabbies pan proposed credit card mandate

Alexandria’s cabbies pan proposed credit card mandate

By Derrick Perkins A measure that would require Alexandria-based taxicabs to accept major credit cards drew the ire of drivers during Saturday’s city council meeting. As written, the proposal lets cab companies pick the credit cards [...]

Few options available to city officials hoping to relocate proposed Walgreens

Few options available to city officials hoping to relocate proposed Walgreens

By Derrick Perkins Del Ray residents may not want a Walgreens along The Avenue, but city officials can do little to dissuade the national retailer. The project, which would displace five small shops at the corner [...]

Agua Viva to get a makeover

Agua Viva to get a makeover

By Derrick Perkins Less than two years after throwing open the doors at Agua Viva, owner Michael Cordero is jettisoning the Latin infusion concept in favor of a 1950s-style steakhouse. “We came here as a Latin [...]

Opening a new business in Alexandria? Check the lease

Opening a new business in Alexandria? Check the lease

By Melissa Quinn For Joanne Sapp, the first-floor space in the building at 1314 King St. was perfect. It had everything she wanted — an Old Town address, a big window space to showcase her shop’s [...]

Are Alexandria’s massage laws out of touch?

Are Alexandria’s massage laws out of touch?

By Melissa Quinn For city residents, the comfort and convenience of an in-home massage remains far out of reach. Massage therapists looking to take their business mobile face multiple barriers — including coordinating with the police [...]

Decades old ordinance makes in-home massages ‘nearly illegal’ in Alexandria

Decades old ordinance makes in-home massages ‘nearly illegal’ in Alexandria

By Melissa Quinn For city residents, the comfort and convenience of an in-home massage remains far out of reach. Massage therapists looking to take their business mobile face multiple barriers — including coordinating with the police [...]

Mayor sees signs of economic recovery in restaurant projects

Mayor sees signs of economic recovery in restaurant projects

By Derrick Perkins Resident Connie Desrosiers’ plans to transform a Hume Avenue home into a combination wine bar and coffee shop got the green light from city council earlier this month. Desrosiers, who bought the property [...]

Alexandria rolls out the welcome mat for inauguration

Alexandria rolls out the welcome mat for inauguration

By Melissa Quinn With thousands expected to flock to the nation’s capital to mark President Barack Obama’s second inauguration Monday, city businesses are putting out the welcome mat for the impending visitors. Local hotels, restaurants and [...]

Emma’s gets planning commission’s OK

Emma’s gets planning commission’s OK

By Derrick Perkins Connie Desrosiers’ year long dream of turning a Hume Avenue home into a coffee and wine bar got a little closer to reality last week when the planning commission backed the concept. Desrosiers bought [...]

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 [...]