Businesses, Restaurant Openings Coming to Alexandria in 2017

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- There's a lot to be excited about in Alexandria, with new restaurants and businesses opening in 2017 and some hints of what's to come was unveiled Wednesday morning at Visit Alexandria's "What's New in 2017" presentation at Hilton Alexandria Old Town.

Here are some of the highlights (and look for more in-depth stories coming soon about these and other projects discussed Wednesday):

• Look for a "celebrity-chef driven" restaurant at Hotel Indigo, opening this spring, said the hotel's new general manager, Kate Ellis, formerly GM at Morrison House in Alexandria.
• A Business Improvement District (BID) is still in the works and being planned for Alexandria: Tentative plans are still calling for businesses within the district (King and Washington streets and waterfront and later North Old Town) to pitch in 10 cents for every $100 value of assessed commercial property for those businesses in the zone (estimates of $500 to $600 per business per year), generating $2.2 million annually to help with street-scaping, branding and marketing.
• Meggrolls, named Virginia's top food truck in Virginia last year by Southern Living magazine, is eyeing an opening in April in the former Five Guys location at 107 N. Fayette. (Look for that Five Guys location to close within the week, as the new Five Guys opens Saturday on King Street in the former Bertucci's location.) Alexandrian Megg Baroody was busy Wednesday morning handing out French toast, bacon and maple syrup breakfast Meggrolls to those at the presentation.
• Also at the meeting handing out samples was Sandra Tran, owner of Nicecream Factory, now open in Clarendon and coming to 726 King St. in Alexandria this spring.
• Look for Whiskey & Oyster, from the folks who brought you Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray, to open in the spring of 2017 in the Carlyle neighborhood. The 4,400-square-foot restaurant, bar and raw bar will be located at 333 John Carlyle St.
• The Old Town Shop is coming to 105 S. Union St. (formerly home to Ladyburg); look for them to open in March 2017.
• AR Workshop will celebrate its grand opening Feb. 8, 2017 from 6-9 p.m. at 107 N. Fairfax St. AR Workshop is a boutique DIY workshop offering hands-on classes to create home decor in a lounge style atmosphere. The "AR" stands for Maureen (Anders) and Adria (Ruff). These two are the designers behind the 2010-founded design company Anders Ruff, a graphic design, party styling, DIY blog and online shop.
• Vendor space for the first annual Alexandria Wedding Showcase, coming Feb. 19 to Westin Alexandria Hotel, has sold out. "Say Yes to the Dress" star Monte Durham is a featured guest.

PHOTO courtesy of AR Workshop